When I was in the classroom, where I work now, for 10+ years, I was always a strict instructor from day one. That is the ONLY way to keep order in your classroom, even though the students are adults. There are those few that act like children, and try and call you on your rules. When you enforce them, even though those students may not like it, you get your respect like none other. They also pass the word around to other students, who will be having you as an instructor in the future; that's ok. I've even offered to help students change their schedules, if the same class is at another time. I've said to a student who acted as though I was unfair, " This class is offered at 6P on M-W. It will not bother me one bit for you to change. As long as you are in my class, though, you will follow my rules. " I had only one student change the class in all those years.
I am now in a different kind of instruction, more like an extra-help position. I am over what is called The Learning Success Center at my college. I get to interact with a wider variety of students than when I just taught certain courses. I still enforce certain rules when the students come in to work. If they can't follow them, they can't come in, pure and simple.
