THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY OFFENSIVE PROFESSORS!

THE 7 HABITS
This series has addressed the following categories of offensive material:

1. PUT-DOWNS
2. SARCASM
3. RIDICULE
4. SEXUAL CONTENT AND INNUENDO
5. PROFANITY
6. VULGARITY
7. SENSITIVE PERSONAL ISSUES AND TRAGEDIES

There’s been a lot of reaction to these topics on the LinkedIn higher education groups. Since most professionals do not systematically consider these categories and the consequences of offending people in their daily conduct in the classroom or workplace, I hope that some of the content, examples, and guidelines in my blogs and the healthy discussion of these topics will generate some thought on WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE.

The consequences of disregarding my OFFENSIVE ALERT can be devastating to your students and your co-workers. Remember: This is all about them, not you.

If you are serious about making this work, you need to consider a pre-emptive strike to set standards everyone can accept before you or your students offend someone.

SHOULD YOU MIRANDIZE YOUR STUDENTS OR CO-WORKERS?
This blog level one head conjures up the mental image of a Shawshankian line-up of our students or co-workers facing a wall, with their hands up and feet spread, as they’re read their rights on what offensive content is out-of-bounds in the classroom or workplace. While some you may be drooling at the idea of executing such a sweep, I don’t recommend it for two reasons:

1. It may be difficult to find a clear wall long enough without pictures of dead past deans or college presidents on it.

2. That’s probably not the best approach to get these people to buy in to these rules of behavior or conduct for their learning or work environment.

The final blog in this series will proffer specific guidelines for executing a pre-emptive strike against offensive material in your classroom and workplace. It’s almost over.

COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC