Move On

The events of last Friday's basketball game at South Lenoir and the subsequent discussions and meetings that took place this week, as a result, taught me a lot. Bad things happen and at some point, we all have bad days, say or do things that we don't mean or are out of our character. As educators and the person "in charge" in our classrooms, we often recognize this from our students. Some have bad days more often than others and some we rarely ever see it at all. You don't have to teach very long to see this behavior from an adolescent. If you work in a high poverty school, you've been told or quickly came to realize that things like hunger, family conflict, lack of sleep, inconsistent home lives and a myriad of other issues can translate to aggressive behavior or a lack of engagement in the classroom. First-year teachers learn this more quickly than they learn how to access their curriculum online or complete their PDP.

Recognizing faults, or the reason for them is only the first step toward correcting that behavior. Most good teachers know to take the next step of counseling with a student or getting help from someone that can connect with them. That is where we usually stop, and this week taught me that it is not over there. You have to consciously make the decision to move on. You have to articulate that to the student as well. When students (and let's face it adult too) mess up, there is often guilt associated with the behavior. Correcting the behavior also involves letting the individual know that tomorrow is a new day and that you're ready to go back to work. It's a principle that is at the heart of most religious teachings. Helping and working with others involves recognizing faults, but also in forgiving them. It expresses care for them as individuals, and that's probably something that we all need when we are having a bad day.

So the next time a student, colleague, parent or administrator has a bad day or moment with you. Remember that improving that behavior and maintaining the relationship involves addressing it, but also in moving on. We are all guilty of this at some point and that grace is certainly appreciated when it is given back.