The whole Adams column was about personal responsibility and respect for one’s teachers.
I think that there was more to the ADD wrong paper student than was written about.
However, I have tremendous respect for my college teachers from the old days. Most were not egotistical assholes, but hardworking, professional, and caring. Even one of my leftist, Give Castro a chance, professors was one of my best teachers.
The worst were two French teachers, both who either studied at the Sorbonne or taught there - egotistical bitches. The other French teacher was a real gentleman who understood that American students did not learn verbal French in High School, and needed a modified approach in his efforts.
Other than one old bitty English teacher, the rest (AA, BA, and graduate school, plus overseas studies), were really good people and deserving of respect.
If you give respect, you get respect. It’s that simple.
I’m glad that cell phones didn’t exist in my days in school. I actually learned something, and eventually married my girlfriend without a myriad of disruptive phone calls.
I agree that cell phones have made the teaching profession more challenging but you simply cannot infring upon my rights and tell me I can’t take a phone call.