Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Poor and Innocent I made one of the biggest mistakes in my professional life as a teacher about a week ago. I teach middle school English. We collected money for a breast cancer awareness event, and I put the cash and the checks in separate envelopes. After lunch time, I could not locate the envelope with the cash. I looked everywhere, but I could not find it. I asked my students if anyone took the envelope by mistake but nobody came forward. So, the cash was lost. Apparently, someone stole it, I thought. I have a good mix of students in my classroom; different religions, races, cultures, and rich and poor. Steve is the poorest student. Sometimes students make fun of Steve for wearing the same pair of shoes or the same pants all the time. The day after the money had been lost Steve came to school wearing a new jacket. Automatically, everyone, including me, started thinking he stole the cash. I took Steve to the principal's office to have a conference with him about the lost cash and his new jacket. We told him why we were having the meeting and asked him to be truthful. He said he had nothing to do with the lost cash. When we asked him about the new jacket, he said he had worked in his uncle's mechanic shop past weekend and made some money. Then, his father gave him some money to make up the difference for him to buy the jacket. We called his father and he confirmed everything Steve had told us. At that moment I thought I had never been so embarrassed in my life. But the more embarrassing moment came when Steve asked me if I had questioned Greg, a student from a middle class background, because he happened to come to school wearing a new jacket that day also. How can I fix the broken trust between me and Steve? How would you react to this situation—lost money and a poor student wearing a new jacket the next day? What would be the most appropriate way to respond to this situation? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) This situation is very awkward and embarrassing. I'm not sure what measures could be taken to repair the damages. However, I will start by indicating what I would have done to not take it as far as having Steve in the principal's office facing accusations. After the money disappeared and suspicions about Steve started arising, I would have notified the appropriate chain of command as to what perspired. That is all a person can do, I believe. I would not have the guts to approach any student personally with such accusations. I don't know that that is in our job description. However, if I did partake in the situation as described above, I would have to make reparations with Steve. I'm not sure in which way I would approach it. Possibly, I would start by seeking counsel on the situation from individuals that experience in the areas. I would want to know why my mind prejudicially assumed that because of Steve's socioeconomic status that he is the culprit. Possibly, another approach would be to explain to Steve the concept of "circumstantial evidence." However, even evidence isn't always proof. Would this work? Or is it an excuse? But what does this do for my relationship with the student? I don't know. I don't know that it could be repaired. If I did my best to repair the relationship it might seem that I'm favoring Steve. You know, when you try extra hard to get someone to like you it seems obvious sometimes, does it not? This seems like one of the situations where you walk away with your head shamefully hanging. Irreparable.