Fellow high school teacher's opinions needed, please. I said something questionable to my students.?

As a school administrator in California, I certainly wouldn't be writing you up for this conversation. You simply stated that you were reprimanded for asking to see a play rather than reading it. I can't imagine how the students would jump to the conclusion that you were in trouble a lot.

My guess is that the students will have forgotten the comment by Monday. If, however, it comes up in class again -- why not turn it into a conversation with the students. Ask them what made them come to the conclusion that you were a bad student from the story. Talk about making assumptions. And if they persist in sticking to their conclusion, provide them with some evidence that you were a well-mannered, successful student in high school.

In the meantime, Congratulations!!, you made it through another week of teaching in high school. A job few can do.

Have a restful weekend -- you've earned it.

I wouldn't bring it up again. I don't see how this is questionable, other than it revealed that you were once a high school student who during one episode asked if you could take the easy way out. If the students bring it up again, you could talk about the value you ended up getting in the end by reading the book instead of watching the movie.

BTW - who cares about your punctuation! You are typing quickly on the internet like all of us do - I am sure I make typos too, and my punctuation is not always spot on. Some people are just so picky!

I don't even think what you said is questionable. Hopefully your students have the gray matter to know that getting in trouble for asking to see a play isn't really getting in trouble at all. If your students do think you got in trouble a lot as a kid, it might actually do them some good. The students who get in trouble will see that if they play their cards right and work hard, they too can become teachers and help troubled kids themselves. The students who never get in trouble can see that even people who make mistakes can be respectable contributing citizens of society. Either way, and I mean no disrespect here, I think you're overreacting a bit.

I am a middle school teacher. I think that what you said is fine. I think that it shows we all try to get out of work sometimes. I would let it go. If the students bring it up you can explain that you were not in trouble a lot. But I think that what you said shows that you are human and actually gives you some credibility with the students. I think if you backtrack and try to explain, it will make things look worse.

You shouldn't worry about it so much. I am a middle school teacher myself and I don't see the harm in it. It isn't a crime to reveal that you are less than perfect. You are a human, after all. Besides, you might have gotten in trouble back then, but now you are different and they can see that you aren't that way now.

Don't worry about the parents finding out. Did you go home and tell your parents everything your teacher said when you were in high school?

They will have forgotten it by Monday. You should forget it, too.

By the way, you sound like a great teacher to me for even caring about this kind of stuff. ;)

Just let the subject die. If u go back to the subject they will see this as a sort of defence for the guilty. Besides, i dont think the impression that the students got is anything bad and there is no reason for them to discontinue looking upto you. Also, what really matters is how you perform now and not what u might or might not have been.

Am I the only person concerned by the fact that this high school teacher doesn't know how to use apostrophes correctly?

I've been a teacher for two years and I'm currently in the process of getting certified to teach in a high school. I spend several days each week working as a TA in high schools. The best thing to do is to just let the subject die. Instead of bringing it up, counter it with some different examples of academic, social and extra-curricular successes that you had when you were a student. They'll forget about the bad stuff quickly if you give them lots of examples of the good stuff.

And for the love of God, brush up on your punctuation and grammar.

Trust me I am a student and I think you should just let the matter die. I doubt anyone will remember on Monday and I don't think anyone should perceive what you did as being a troublemaker of any sort. I always get that feeling in my stomach when I think I said something wrong don't worry everything will pass and just keep being a great teacher.

I think it all depends on how the students reacted to you "being in trouble." Being a role model is tough because you are constantly being scrutinized by your students. You don't want to say the "wrong" thing to be a bad influence but showing them your flaws allows you to show your human side. If you feel what you said had a major negative impact on their impression of you, you should consider addressing this on Monday. On the flip-side, your story doesn't show you as a delinquent and shows off your "fun" side. Honestly, I would play it by ear and see how what they say to you on Monday before I made this decision.

In my opinion you should let the subject die. Dwelling on something said will only elevate the potential problem. Go on teaching the way you feel is best for the students. This minor fopar will soon forgotten. Good luck