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 uncomfortable and will result in a certain amount of emotional damage for both teacher and students. Of course hindsight is 20-20, but the importance of money handling is really driven home in this scenario. In a situation like this you have to realize that the money is gone for good. Any investigation can only cause trouble. When an investigation like this fails, student relationships suffer. Students can hurt each other's feelings with accusations and assumptions. The teachers and students can start to resent each other over the suspicions that are raised. The damage to the relationships caused by a failed investigation far outweighs any amount of money in that envelope. I think it is appropriate to be honest with the students and let them know that the money is gone. Take advantage of the teachable moment. Teach students not to turn on each other and try to heal as a community. In this case, the damage is done and we have to do the best we can for poor Steve. The answer is honesty. Tell him that a terrible mistake was made and apologize. Steve is no fool. He probably understands the type of prejudice that exists in the world. You should tell him that the fact that he had a new jacket only stood out because you had heard the other cruel students tease him about it. You should tell him that most people pay no attention to such things and that it was wrong for both students and adults to jump to such a conclusion. Trust and relationship building relies on honesty and must be rebuilt one day at a time.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I agree that honesty is an excellent way to handle this situation. Most people become upset because they expect others to be honest, and when others do not respond to this expectation, feelings are hurt. Rated On: March 28, 2014 11:21 am Rated By: Will Melton                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: This is the best solution possible. Honesty and communication are imperative. Rated On: October 20, 2014 3:41 pm Rated By: Maryssa Kane                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: this is a good solution Rated On: February 25, 2018 11:15 pm Rated By: uXysej                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: This is a realistic reply and should be taken into consideration. Rated On: October 31, 2021 8:11 am Rated By: aPeQyG