A few days ago, I made the first significant mistake of my teaching career. I won't go into specifics. Suffice it to say that parents were upset, damage control needed to be done, and I was absolutely devastated.
It was a careless mistake; one made by a frazzled mind. Occasionally you hear about parents who accidentally leave their infant in the car on a scorching hot day and return to find them lifeless. I once read a long article on the topic that brought to light just how possible it is for something like that to happen to absolutely anyone, no matter how diligent they usually are. It's terrifying.
I feel fortunate that my mistake (no, I didn't leave a child in a hot car) didn't lead to any grave consequences, and that it shook me up enough to never let it happen again. In that sense, it's a blessing. A chance for me to learn an important lesson without first having to hit rock bottom.
The next day, I was continually reminded by my colleagues and superiors that it was over and forgotten, and that the only important thing is everyone's ok. Of course, it hasn't been forgotten or else it wouldn't keep coming up in conversation, but actually I think it's important that it hasn't. Forgive, but not forget. Remember, but move on. That's how we all learn.
I'm lucky to be working with such a supportive team, and I'm also lucky to have good timing. We're on a one week break now, which should hopefully give me the chance to recover emotionally and begin the rest of the term on a better foot.
If you've ever made a careless mistake, what were the consequences? How did you feel about it? How did others feel about it? How do you feel when others make mistakes? Do you think we're too quick to condemn or too quick to forgive?
Bryn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post (referenced from Facebook). Coincidentally, this comes just at a time when I made a big mistake at work too. I'm a music critic - whose qualifications includes having studied music history in detail. Yet I made a pretty rookie historical error in one of my reviews. More than anything, it just makes the public skeptical about my ability to criticize a concert and my trustworthiness as a journalist. I'm sad to let them down, even if its a small, impermanent and eventually redeemable way. And individuals on newspaper website forums, specifically, have a way of being particularly brutal.
As in your situation, no one's life was in danger, there were no grave consequences. But it doesn't mean the feeling of your heart dropping down into your stomach doesn't still happen.
Also as you mentioned, when you make a mistake it can be a blessing, since you can learn from it.
Thanks for the chance to share!
~Anna
Hi Bryn
ReplyDeleteI tried to post something a few days ago but I didn't send it properly. This blog is a really good idea! I like how it is separate from your personal blog, good idea.
This post is a difficult one to comment one without knowing much about the context, but I agree with what the above comment says - as long as no one's life is in danger, it is forgiveable. And yay you for learning from the mistake, that is so important. I've always said that a successful and professional teacher must reflect, reflect and reflect as (and I think you said this too) learning is just as important as teaching in the profession. Whenever I teach a lesson, I always think about what I could have done to make it better and luckily, because I teach several sections of the same year/class, I can try my new ideas out the next time.
Keep the posts coming!