Dr. Janine Parry, Professor in Political Science and Director of Arkansas Poll, gave a presentation on “Exercising Temperance in an Intemperate Time.”
Dr. Parry’s talk was focused on how to keep things temperant in a society that is getting more and more intemperate all the time. There are violent political rallies where people attend with guns and gas masks. Prominent politicians are calling each other foul names in public settings. There are even fights in businesses over whether or not people will wear a mask for public safety.
She has a set of recommendations for maintaining a civil classroom. It begins with preventative strategies to head off unwanted behavior at the pass. If that doesn’t work then she has methods for stopping the behavior. In addition to these, she has a practice that is a little of both.
Preventive Strategies
- Big picture: Create a community with a set of common practices – citizenship, civility
It’s important to try to foster a sense of community with yourself and your students.- Refer to others – as much as possible – by name
(Zoom helps with this because their names are on the screen!) - Remember to speak and behave as a “We” instead of an “I”.
Besides just the way you speak, make sure to do the same things that you have your students do. So, if the students are bringing in a current event one day, you should bring one in too.
- Refer to others – as much as possible – by name
- Share information, not affect.
It’s important to remember to traffic in information, not emotion. There are many subjects that can bring out a lot of emotion, but you can minimize the chances of these emotions derailing the conversation by talking simply about the facts. - Model courtesy, humility, and your own humanity.
We all make mistakes. Admit your mistakes with an apology and kindness.
Curative Strategies
- When there are instances of intemperance call them out gently.
This can often be done with humor. For example, if a student says that someone else in the class is being a “Karen,” then Dr. Parry might respond with, “Ouch! I run in a Karen-heavy cohort, and that hurts their feelings.” - Reframe or soften the comment.
You can often take a harsh statement and reframe it in a more gentle way. - Redirect a comment toward the course material
This allows you to pull the class back to the subject at hand and not let the conversation stray. - Deflect
“This sounds like a conversation for another time.”
Both Preventative and Curative
Continue to keep making and encouraging small talk and other humanizing interactions.
- Welcome them with warmth:
- “Good morning! I’m sure glad to see you fine people today!”
- Appreciate the value of the non sequitur:
- “Y’all, I grew a tomato! Bow before me and my mad farming skills!”
- Help them get to know this community:
- “Who’s seen the lights at the Fayetteville Square? They always throw the switch around Thanksgiving, folks. Check it out!”
- Help them stay grounded in the world and connected with each other:
- “Monday Fun Day: post a wildlife pic from your room/house/apt. on today’s thread!”
- Throw them a bonus:
- “Bonus Point Friday: please describe on our discussion thread the best Halloween costume you’ve seen.”
- Send them back out into a stressful world with care:
- “That’s all for today, folks. Remember to eat an orange, take a walk, and learn the names of your neighbors. Also remember: I’m here to help!”
In general, Dr. Parry encourages other instructors to be like Anna in Frozen 2. When in doubt, “just do the next right thing.”
A video of this presentation can be accessed by visiting the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center (TFSC) Blackboard course and clicking on Archived Presentations.
This content was developed from a presentation by Janine Parry which was sponsored by The Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center (TFSC) at the University of Arkansas.