A Whole New Level of PITA.

I have a higher level of PITA category to discuss: those colleagues who overtly and repeatedly disrespect the integrity of your classroom by:

1) Holding on the the classroom until the last second before your own class starts, thereby moving your set up time into your class time.

2) Making your set up time include closing all of their files and logging them out of all of their programs.

3) Remaining in your class because they are interested in the subject, then grading while you lecture.

4) Making a production out of leaving your class while you lecture.

5) Arguing with you in front of the class about the placement of desks, despite the fact that the placement has nothing to do with them.

6) Ignoring the etiquette of returning the classroom to the way you found it so that other professors don't have to use their class time cleaning up after you.

7) Entering your classroom to return papers to their students. No apologies, no "excuse mes," no indication that they are interrupting those students, distracting the other students, and distracting you. Indeed, they exude a sense of entitlement to do so.

8) Referring to you as "Miss Bluestocking" in front of the students despite the fact that you spent five minutes on the first day of class explaining to the students that they should refer to all of their professors as "Professor" since that is, in fact, their professional title.

9) Conferring with students in your classroom while you lecture.

10) Ignoring your subtle hints when, as they engage in some of this behavior, you stop the class and quietly but pointedly look at them, just as you would a texting student, as if to say, "I'm sorry, are we disturbing you?" The students get it.

Every day it's a new level of WTF?

Number 1) and 2) are perpetual problems that all professors have had with this colleague, and this colleague will not change because this colleague beleives that the class is entirely theirs until the strike of the hour. No matter how much earlier I come in and stand patiently to the side, no matter how aggressively I begin the motions of setting up my class, this colleague thinks that the class is all hers until the strike of the hour.

I can't do anything about 3) because this is part of a learning community, so this colleague feels entitled to sit in my class in order to keep up with what we are doing. Fortunately, this collegue has another class beginning about half-way into my class (hence, the production of exiting my classroom). I'm willing to put up with the production if it means the collegue is gone -- except when the colleague returns for 7). Number 7)? I just stood there with my jaw hanging. It was a "slapped in the face with a lollipop" moment.

If I make a big deal out of 8), then I look like a prima donna, and there are too many of those and their primo don companions (thank you for that one, Susan!) running around. Fortunately, the class clown kinda picked up on this, and started to tease me with "Ms. Bluestocking." "Professor," I corrected. "Miss Bluestocking is your 3rd grade teacher." This was a jocular exchange, but he took the fall in order for me to make a point with the colleague.

Number 3) is part of a larger pattern of behavior outside of the classroom in which the colleague seems to attempt to pay attention, then demonstrates clearly that this is, in fact, feigned attention.

As for the rest, I'm going to have to cowgirl up, get over myself, and aggressively confront this situation head on because, damn! What is wrong with this person? I just have to figure out the most diplomatic way to do so.

In general, I don't dislike this colleague, and this colleague can be of help in several matters that don't involve my classroom. At worst, she's probably well-meaning but clueless; and I don't want to create animosity.

Still, you can't just treat another professor's classroom this way. You undermine her authority and teach the students that her class is not as important as yours. I'm complicit if I don't put my foot down.

Any suggestions?