When I answered the phone this morning, I heard my partner—his voice in a soft whisper—say, “The professor just started to lecture so I thought it was a good time to call.” We both laughed. Who, of course, would be so rude as to take or make a call during a lecture?

The answer to this seeming rhetorical question might be “irresponsible students.” But, unfortunately, the answer could just as easily be irresponsible members of the faculty.

Earlier in the week, I attended a professional development seminar. In the middle of the session, a colleague’s phone beeped—an embarrassing situation that, I must admit, has happened to me. But my colleague was not in the least embarrassed. In fact, he answered the phone. And while the presenters continued conducting the seminar, my colleague—in the same whispered voice that Keith used this morning—conducted a hushed conversation.

I had not met this particular colleague before so I do not know his attitudes and classroom practices. Maybe he would not care if one of his students took a phone call during one of his lectures? Somehow, I doubt it.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD