Conflict in the Community College Classroom

In: Academic leadership

Abstract

Violence and aggression in the community college classroom is something overlooked by many. "In agiven month, 11 percent of all students reported having something stolen, 1.3 percent of all studentsreported being physically assaulted, and 12 percent of all teachers reported having something stolen, 5percent of these thefts occurring by way of force, weapons, or threats" (Barton, 1998). At this level ofeducation, it is typically assumed that students will act professionally and know how to control angerand situations of conflict. On the contrary, at this level, students may be under more stress thanelementary and/or secondary students. One in four professors witness conflict and/or violence in thecollege classroom ("One in four," 2009). Conflicts arise from many different reasons in the communitycollege classroom. Academic egos, social class, high school locale, and other factors give reason tomany conflicts in the college classroom.