Comments on: Apologizing http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Stengel99http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1705 Stengel99 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:24:30 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1705 Sounds like a good plan, Joel. Both of your tactics seem like the right: changing the format/structure of the class, and apologizing in front of the class. Three thoughts: 1. Your decision to change the nature of the class to a percussion ensemble could be very successful. I had a similar situation last year when there were simply too many percussionists for one band. I kept the best percussionists in the band and created a percussion ensemble for the rest. It made the band rehearsals much better and gave the percussionists their own venue. 2. The responses to your original post obviously show that we have ALL made similar blunders. I would guess that your readers who didn't respond online were probably reminded of their own stories. You touched a huge nerve among teachers! 3. One option with your principal might be to invite him to observe the percussion class. (Okay, this might also be shooting yourself in the foot!) But bringing him into your world, especially now that you've apologized, might help him see what a difficult situation you are in and how you are managing it. You might also tell him that if he visits the class, he would have more insight if a parent meeting happens, and he could diffuse any anger by confirming that you have apologized and are on top of the situation. Keep us posted, Joel! We are all empathetically on pins and needles waiting to hear what happens! :-) Sounds like a good plan, Joel. Both of your tactics seem like the right: changing the format/structure of the class, and apologizing in front of the class.

Three thoughts:

1. Your decision to change the nature of the class to a percussion ensemble could be very successful. I had a similar situation last year when there were simply too many percussionists for one band. I kept the best percussionists in the band and created a percussion ensemble for the rest. It made the band rehearsals much better and gave the percussionists their own venue.

2. The responses to your original post obviously show that we have ALL made similar blunders. I would guess that your readers who didn’t respond online were probably reminded of their own stories. You touched a huge nerve among teachers!

3. One option with your principal might be to invite him to observe the percussion class. (Okay, this might also be shooting yourself in the foot!) But bringing him into your world, especially now that you’ve apologized, might help him see what a difficult situation you are in and how you are managing it. You might also tell him that if he visits the class, he would have more insight if a parent meeting happens, and he could diffuse any anger by confirming that you have apologized and are on top of the situation.

Keep us posted, Joel! We are all empathetically on pins and needles waiting to hear what happens! :-)

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]]> By: Lindahttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1703 Linda Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:13:27 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1703 I am tired of patting kids on the back who don't deserve it. I am tired of the false sense of self esteem were are supposed to give them. When I was little, we had to EARN respect and self esteem. It didn't come for free. You can't make someone else stupid. They do it to themselves. Just like you can't make them smart by telling them they are smart. They have to study. You did not call him stupid. He was feeling stupid. Maybe he needs counciling. Maybe he needs to get his own butt off the floor and get busy and do some work to repair the damage he has done to himself. Do NOT take it personal. Kids are great at controlling us by making us feel guilty. I am tired of patting kids on the back who don’t deserve it. I am tired of the false sense of self esteem were are supposed to give them. When I was little, we had to EARN respect and self esteem. It didn’t come for free. You can’t make someone else stupid. They do it to themselves. Just like you can’t make them smart by telling them they are smart. They have to study. You did not call him stupid. He was feeling stupid. Maybe he needs counciling. Maybe he needs to get his own butt off the floor and get busy and do some work to repair the damage he has done to himself. Do NOT take it personal. Kids are great at controlling us by making us feel guilty.

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]]> By: Pathttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1702 Pat Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:12:32 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/apologizing/#comment-1702 Wow! What a great role model you are for the students. I think they learned a lot about this whole thing. They learned: you care about them, how to act as an adult when you make a mistake, that you will change how you do things because you can't control their behavior. I think you handled this whole situation in a truly wonderful way. Wow! What a great role model you are for the students. I think they learned a lot about this whole thing. They learned: you care about them, how to act as an adult when you make a mistake, that you will change how you do things because you can’t control their behavior. I think you handled this whole situation in a truly wonderful way.

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