Sorry ... my mistake!
I was embarrassed ... (Third place, Story of the month)26 total reviews
Comment from karenina
So, the OCD person in me wants to know...did you ever discover the culprits? I see why this would have been memorable for you and the "accused" class. I don't recall a teacher ever apologizing for anything...even when the fault was clearly theirs!
You showed grace...and it's a lesson I hope they carry forward for the rest of their lives!
Karenina
reply by the author on 26-Nov-2023
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So, the OCD person in me wants to know...did you ever discover the culprits? I see why this would have been memorable for you and the "accused" class. I don't recall a teacher ever apologizing for anything...even when the fault was clearly theirs!
You showed grace...and it's a lesson I hope they carry forward for the rest of their lives!
Karenina
Comment Written 25-Nov-2023
reply by the author on 26-Nov-2023
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I believe in modelling to students how one should treat others. They respect that. And yes, I hope they did remember as adults that it is appropriate even for adults to apologise when necessary. No, I never found out who did it, but there was no recurrence. Lol. Thanks for a great review!
Wendy
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I wish all adults would realize that children mirror what they see...
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
A good teacher teaches in many ways. Bravo to you for being one of THOSE teachers - your classes were very lucky to have you. This is an interesting and engaging story from a writer with a wealth of experience to draw on for her writing.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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A good teacher teaches in many ways. Bravo to you for being one of THOSE teachers - your classes were very lucky to have you. This is an interesting and engaging story from a writer with a wealth of experience to draw on for her writing.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you very much Pam (especially for reviewing when you got nothing in return.) Congratulations on your win - you wrote an excellent and amazing story, and you well deserved the win. It was an outstanding piece of writing about a horrific experience.
Wendy
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I don't just read for the member dollars, I also read to learn. Have a good one.
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Me too usually, but I was strapped for time yesterday. I'll try to review yours tonight. Looking after three little ones now.
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Don't worry about it. You can catch me next time. Enjoy the little ones.
Comment from Terry Broxson
I love the story and it is well told. No wonder it tied with a big fish in the contest. The only thing I could suggest is maybe to add the grade level or age of the students. Good job. Terry.
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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I love the story and it is well told. No wonder it tied with a big fish in the contest. The only thing I could suggest is maybe to add the grade level or age of the students. Good job. Terry.
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thanks Terry. I appreciate your review.These were secondary school students (teenagers 12 to 18). I'm not sure if the culprits were lower or upper secondary.
(What has happened to your second place ranking? I was shocked to find you had disappeared!)
Wendy
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I have stopped doing stories. I disabled all my stuff except for The FanStory Interviews.
I will do a few reviews and I am going to watch you and Lisa May fight it out for second, I think catching Helen is going to be tough. Good luck. Terry.
Comment from juliaSjames
Congratulations on placing in the contest.. You made this account vivid and interesting by clever use of structure and dialogue. The reader feels your exasperation building until it bursts out in the classroom confrontation.
It's never easy to accept that one has made an embarrassing mistake, especially in public. I get that. It's even harder to offer an authentic apology. I've collected enough egg on my face over the years to make omelettes for dozens of hungry people!
While growing up I recall a lot of grumbling about unfair teachers, but I don't think we students ever dreamed of teachers apologizing to us..We just didn't confront or argue with them in class. Although we did take issue with test scores etc on an individual basis.
But this write is not only about teachers and students. It's about the proper use of power. I recently apologized to my granddaughter about an incident when I was looking after her as a toddler being potty trained. To my amazement she told all her schoolfriends. My apology had made her feel special and greatly loved.
I believe that's how your students felt when you apologized to them.
One tiny point
"Many hours were spent preparing a different display for each week."
Did the pranksters tamper with the new displays or with the old ones?
Stay safe and blessed
Julia
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Congratulations on placing in the contest.. You made this account vivid and interesting by clever use of structure and dialogue. The reader feels your exasperation building until it bursts out in the classroom confrontation.
It's never easy to accept that one has made an embarrassing mistake, especially in public. I get that. It's even harder to offer an authentic apology. I've collected enough egg on my face over the years to make omelettes for dozens of hungry people!
While growing up I recall a lot of grumbling about unfair teachers, but I don't think we students ever dreamed of teachers apologizing to us..We just didn't confront or argue with them in class. Although we did take issue with test scores etc on an individual basis.
But this write is not only about teachers and students. It's about the proper use of power. I recently apologized to my granddaughter about an incident when I was looking after her as a toddler being potty trained. To my amazement she told all her schoolfriends. My apology had made her feel special and greatly loved.
I believe that's how your students felt when you apologized to them.
One tiny point
"Many hours were spent preparing a different display for each week."
Did the pranksters tamper with the new displays or with the old ones?
Stay safe and blessed
Julia
Comment Written 13-May-2022
reply by the author on 13-May-2022
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Thank you so much for a wonderful review (despite getting only two cents for it!). Every time I changed it, they altered things, basically whenever I wasn?t in my room. Thanks again. Wendy
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Oh I see what you mean. Teenagers can be so silly..At our girls' school we had a very proper and serious Latin teacher ( wife of the Prime Minister) who couldn't understand why we all broke into giggles whenever the word "bull" came up in translation. The reason was that was the nickname of the boyfriend of one of the students. So silly. But to us it was hilarious.
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Lol. Yes, they can be silly ... but they are great fun as well. I did enjoy teaching them, have some wonderful memories.
Comment from Rdfrdmom2
Wendy,
Well done. Some teachers oul rather develop hoof and mouth disease than allow anything resembling an apology to depart their lips even when it is totally obvious they are wrong. Why not just teach kids a lesson in grace, as you did?
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Wendy,
Well done. Some teachers oul rather develop hoof and mouth disease than allow anything resembling an apology to depart their lips even when it is totally obvious they are wrong. Why not just teach kids a lesson in grace, as you did?
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Thank you for your positive review. I agree, teachers need to model the behaviours they expect from students.
Wendy
Comment from Anne Johnston
This is a great story, Wendy, and you have written it well. It is easy to understand how this happened, but I am glad that the students let you know they were not guilty, and that you had the grace to apologize to them. What you did had a great effect on all of them and you will never know how much it influenced their future behaviour.
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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This is a great story, Wendy, and you have written it well. It is easy to understand how this happened, but I am glad that the students let you know they were not guilty, and that you had the grace to apologize to them. What you did had a great effect on all of them and you will never know how much it influenced their future behaviour.
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Thank you very much Anne. I hope they remember. Teachers do need to model the same behaviours they would like to see in their students. I appreciate your thoughtful review.
Wendy
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And thank you too for the amazing and beautiful six stars.
Honoured.
Wendy
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You are very welcome, Wendy
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You are welcome, Wendy.
Comment from lyenochka
Wow, what a great lesson you taught them! You showed that people in authority could sincerely apologize and that is something they can take with them to adulthood! I wonder who did the poster rearrangement? So glad that simple interaction was fixed!
Best wishes in the contest!!
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Wow, what a great lesson you taught them! You showed that people in authority could sincerely apologize and that is something they can take with them to adulthood! I wonder who did the poster rearrangement? So glad that simple interaction was fixed!
Best wishes in the contest!!
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Thank you Helen. I hope they also remember the incident. I think it only appropriate for teachers to model behaviours that they encourage in their students. I never found out who was guilty, but it didn't matter as the situation was resolved. Their fellow students probably made them feel bad for upsetting me! Thanks too for your good wishes!
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That shows how much they loved you as a teacher! 💖
Comment from Haylee Hemphill
Hello!
I completely agree with your aspect that adults should treat everyone with respect no matter what age they are. I know I found myself arguing with a lot of my teachers who just couldn't except the fact that I was right and they were wrong. Great job and thank you for sharing!
One Love
Haylee
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Hello!
I completely agree with your aspect that adults should treat everyone with respect no matter what age they are. I know I found myself arguing with a lot of my teachers who just couldn't except the fact that I was right and they were wrong. Great job and thank you for sharing!
One Love
Haylee
Comment Written 06-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Thank you Haylee. You've understood perfectly. Teachers need to model the behaviours they expect from students - and teachers do make mistakes. Kids do respect an honest teacher who is not hypocritical. Many thanks, i appreciate your thoughts!
Comment from LisaMay
I think knowing when to admit an error, and apologising for it, gains respect. People know they can trust you to not ride rough-shod over them. Teenagers especially need to know an adult isn't just going to maintain authority over them at all costs. It's not about losing face, it's about gaining face by fronting up to our own errors. The fact they helped your situation by finding the culprit and the annoying things stopped meant they wanted you to be happy... they acknowledged how hard you worked and it was appreciated. It is always best for an adult to model respectful, honest behaviour of integrity. You wrote the situation clearly, showing the impact well, developing empathy.
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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I think knowing when to admit an error, and apologising for it, gains respect. People know they can trust you to not ride rough-shod over them. Teenagers especially need to know an adult isn't just going to maintain authority over them at all costs. It's not about losing face, it's about gaining face by fronting up to our own errors. The fact they helped your situation by finding the culprit and the annoying things stopped meant they wanted you to be happy... they acknowledged how hard you worked and it was appreciated. It is always best for an adult to model respectful, honest behaviour of integrity. You wrote the situation clearly, showing the impact well, developing empathy.
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 06-May-2022
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Thank you Jenny - what a super review. Yes, I agree - teachers need to be honest and show integrity (and not be hypocritical or pretend they are perfect). Kids see straight through that. Why should adults not model the behaviours they are trying to instil in students? I never found out who it was, but I didn't need to. I'm sure they weren't in any of my classes.
Wendy
Comment from Theodore McDowell
A wonderful commentary on a great teacher's example. What strikes me even more is the time you have spent traveling--France, Saudi Arabia (( think) and probably other places. I need a list of your world travels. Have you been to the US?
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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A wonderful commentary on a great teacher's example. What strikes me even more is the time you have spent traveling--France, Saudi Arabia (( think) and probably other places. I need a list of your world travels. Have you been to the US?
Comment Written 05-May-2022
reply by the author on 05-May-2022
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Thanks so much for reviewing. No, I haven?t been to the U.S. although my husband has. We?ve been to Canada, and many European countries, also New Zealand, Reunion Island and many of the South Pacific Islands, as well as living in Saudi Arabia for a couple of years.
Wendy
