My Biggest Mistake This Year as a Teacher

I am normally pretty good at routines and procedures but about 5 months ago we were getting close to the winter breaks and I started to let things go.  Unfortunately I let things go to far and students were getting out of their seats and rushing to the door before the bell rang.  All my years of experience told me this was a bad thing since it could lead to bigger issues. So I decided to put a stop to it.

It was my 5th period class (which is my last class) and I decided to make a stand.  As my students started to get up and move toward the door I yelled, "Go back to your seats.  You have not been dismissed".  Then the bell rang and they all starred at me.  I was standing at the door and I was debating what my next move should be.  It was like one of those shoot outs in the Old West.  "Get back to your seats" I shouted again.  

One student became frustrated and yelled back, "Come On".  I replied back in a mocking tone, "Come On" and the students laughed at him.  Once the students were in their seats I dismissed them.  I won that battle, or did I.  

A few hours passed and it was about 30 minutes after school was let out and I was at my desk finishing up some paperwork and my phone rang.  I picked it up, "This is Mr. Vigil".  The woman's voice responded, "I understand you yelled at my son today".  Oh snap.  It was the mom of the student that I mocked.  She then proceeded to give me a tongue lashing about how what he did may have been wrong but I am the adult and if I had a problem with him I should call her and she would deal with it.  

Who does she think she is to tell me how to do my job.  She has no idea what it is like to be a teacher.  I was getting ready to argue my case and tell her why she was out of line but then I paused for a few seconds and reflected on what happened.  She was right.

The student I yelled out was not a bad student and what really hit home was when she told me that I was her son's favorite teacher but now he is scared of me.  Wow.  I messed up.  I got caught up in the moment with my frustration and I took it out on this poor 8th grade young man.  I did the only thing I could do.  Apologize.  

I first apologized to the mom but then I asked to speak to the young man.  Nobody likes eating humble pie but I felt if I was going to fix what I broken I needed to apologize to my student.  "I am sorry".  "It is okay" he replied but I had to stop him.  "No it is not okay and I am truly sorry.  Can you forgive me?"  He said yes and the restoration began. 

Why this was my worst mistake is because 10 years from now he is not going to remember what I taught him about American History but he will remember when I yelled at him.  I can only hope that along with that memory he will also remember how how I tried to right the wrong.