Classroom Incivility

Incivility in the Classroom: The Generation Gap
The phrase “kids these days” is an infamous one that is passed down from generation to generation; the sentiment expressed in these words is a true constant in the midst of a constantly changing world. These words certainly seem to be echoing today within the halls of many colleges and universities. Ideally, educational institutions serve as a means to bridge the gap between generations as knowledge is passed from one group to the next. Unfortunately, the current college cohort are proving to be more disruptive than their predecessors. Certainly, “…many of the widespread uncivil behaviors seen in college classrooms today were virtually nonexistent through the mid-1980s” (Frey-Knepp). The
A more exact way to define it would be to site the most prominent and recurring forms of incivility. Berger classifies these behaviors into a spectrum ranging from passive to overt or active incivilities (446). Passive incivilities include mild disruptions like packing up before the end of class, late arrivals, and talking, but active incivilities include directly disrespectful behavior, insults, and threats against the teacher or other students (Berger 446). Current college students have now added their own distinctive variation to these customary discourtesies. The term “Millennials” was coined to describe the generation of approximately 80 million born between 1980 and 1995. Morley Safer describes this distinct group as “…tech savvy, with every gadget imaginable almost becoming an extension of their bodies…their priorities are simple: they come first.” The modern student’s partiality to technology and skill in utilizing it have also allowed for certain pernicious incivilities: cell phones that bleat out in class and students that text freely. While technology certainly enables classroom chaos, it is also the prevailing mindset of this legion that have helped create a trend of disruptive conduct in the college classroom. Millennials seem to value themselves and their own interests to the exclusion of all
It is a natural and ageless cycle as one generation’s influence rises as another declines and the natural conflict between changing values. The Millennial generation views itself as an entitled customer and the influence of advancing technology has altered the way students learn as well as what they value in education. These differing viewpoints create conflict and aggravation for both sides as they fail to see the world from the other’s perspective. Lacking an appreciative mindset results in frustration and helps to set the stage for the uncivil acts to follow. There is no excuse for bad behavior, but there may be a rationale behind the behavior that should be understood if the behavior is to be corrected. The college classroom reveals evidence of an increasing gulf between the generations. Though this may present significant challenges, including incivility, it also presents opportunity for learning about more than just course content and to bridge the gap with increased