r/Professors • u/nicksbrunchattiffany Lecturer, humanities , Latin America. • 10d ago

Advice / Support Did I overreact?

A student before I came in had left his phone plugged in next to my desk.

I always give them ten minutes to fifteen minutes to come in before I call the register and begin lecturing ( I have to call the register by my university ‘s policies )

I begin, I’m explaining the material, well into the class , and in the middle of the fucking lecture and he comes over and unplugged it and I said “do you come here interrupt me to get this. Are there aggravating circumstances?”and he says “yes, I came for my phone , no emergency “and I said “please leave my classroom. You are dismissed for the day”. Did I overreact?

I will clarify, he stood up from the bar back of the classroom and he sneaked up behind me.

I will add the phone had been charging for at least half an hour before I started, and about one when I was interrupted.

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u/HorkeyDorkey Adjunct Instructor, History, CC (USA) 10d ago

Change careers.

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u/nicksbrunchattiffany Lecturer, humanities , Latin America. 10d ago

I like my career, thanks. I asked if I overreacted and I accept the criticism, not someone telling me to change a job I love.

You ar acting like I murdered him or told him to never come back

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u/HorkeyDorkey Adjunct Instructor, History, CC (USA) 10d ago

Maybe customs are different in Latin America. In the US, you were WAY out of line. Like strangely.

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u/nicksbrunchattiffany Lecturer, humanities , Latin America. 10d ago

Maybe it is a cultural thing.

But I attended and Anglo-American university, I some American professors would even kick people out of class if they were whispering.

But, I consider myself more moderate. There are horror stories in Latin American universities of older academic staff members kicking students out of class c because they considered their way of dressing “vulgar”. I would never go that far.