On my first day of teaching, as a 22 year old grad students, I walked into the classroom and sat down at the front desk. I was nervous. There was an elderly lady in the front row who said “You can’t teach me algebra, I have children older than you.” Of course the whole class started laughing at me. I turned around and looked at the lady and told her “If a three year old kid could teach me math, I would sit down, shut up, and listen.” The whole class gasped, but they got the message of who was in control. I have never lost control of a classroom. This teacher lost control of his class. Why did he lose control?
Bravo on your reaction! Working in so-called academia I am amazed at the carrying on that some professors allow in their classrooms. I have heard complaints on everything from cell phone conversations, endless tardiness, endless absences, moaning about assignment deadlines, you didn’t tell us exactly what was on the test, you mean you really meant this date for the paper being due was the final date etc...
And my response is contact the dean and tell them this student is going to be kicked out of class and tell him/her why. If they don’t have the rest of your class contact the dean and demand a refund because of the distractions he or she is allowing.
We have one professor on my campus who is from Syria originally and he is hard nosed old school. He locks the door when class starts, you can leave but you can’t come back in once class has started. Three absences and you fail period. Talk on a cell phone at your own risk he will tell you to get out and you are counted absent. He accepts no excuses for failure as he does give a review for his exams. But the students who pass his class will tell you if you can pass his class you can pass any state or national exam thrown at you in that area.