I appologize to my students.. I think they need to know that you are only human and you make mistakes too. How can we expect our own children to appologize when they are wrong when we can’t do it ourselveS?

Seriously, if you know that you did something wrong, you should apologize especially accusing someone of not guilty and on top of that, he’s a student! Children and teenagers have really fragile self-esteem! It’s not right to ruin a child or a teenager’s mentality just because you think it’s crucial for you to avoid embarrassment. There’s a better solution which I don’t reckon if, you think it’s hard for you to apologize. Firstly, occupy some of your time during school hours. Then, walk to him and say that incident was a misunderstanding with a genuine smile. Instead of apologizing, walking to him helps to ease his hatred towards you. Now, both of you stand at an equal position and neither of you need to apologize. Trust me, you would rather burying the hatchet at peace than having that particular students not doing his home-works and total space off when you’re teaching. Later, his parents will be call because he is lack of participation in your class. This is all due to the result of you not compromising with him. If I sound too harsh, my apology with much concern and care. Wish you best of luck.

Are you kidding? Teachers are supposed to model good behavior to our students. If I do something for which I would make a student apologize, I would certainly apologize myself.

Showing weakness is just a stupid way of saying that teachers have to pretend to be perfect and come from an absolute position of power. But teachers are humans. We can maintain good control of our classes and students and still demonstrate respect for our students and good manners.

In fact, apologizing to students when we are in the wrong probably helps us manage our classes well.

I’m only a student but how I see it is if the teachers expect you to apologize when you do something wrong or make a mistake then they should apologize to us when they make a mistake

It’s total BS. Teachers should be role models for how people should behave in society. A person who is unwilling to apologize when an apology is in order is a jerk. Why would a teacher want to model that kind of behavior? Children need to see that when adults make mistakes that they are willing to right their wrongs.

I always apologize to my students when I am wrong, and do not consider it weakness at all. As not only a teacher, but a role model, I feel that it is my responsibility (especially when I see that they aren’t learning this at home) to teach my students not only their abc’s and 123’s, but proper manners as well. If I show my students that I am human and that I make mistakes, and can apologize for them without embarrassment, then it teaches them that they can too.

I absolutely disagree. Of course a teacher should apologize when she is wrong.

Now – here’s the thing – I will never apologize if I’m challenged in a disrespectful way – say I assign detention for a student talking when they really weren’t. If they argue with me in front of the class. No way will I give in. However, if they talk to me in private after class calmly – and I see that I was wrong – I certainly will apologize.

Student’s aren’t stupid. They know when you are wrong. And failure to admit it only makes you less respectful.

apbanpos I think you misread her opinion. She believes that its okay for teachers to apologize.

I agree with you. I think teachers need to show students, especially young ones that even adults make mistakes and when they do they should apologize. It shows them how to be respectful. Just as we would model a lesson, we need to model social skills as well. I think students respect teachers who respect them. The old “never show weakness” goes a long with the “don’t smile till Christmas”, “children should be seen and not heard”, “spare the rod spoil the child”. It is a way of keeping children fearful, and behaving out of fear, rather than respect.

I’ve apologized to students if I make a mistake grading their paper or something like that. However, many students (and their parents) expect you to apologize for anything they don’t like, whether or not it was a mistake. It is NOT a good idea to apologize for that.

that is definitely BS… teachers are human beings, they make mistakes, like everyone else. Kid’s teachers, principals and parents all know that, and since they do know that, when they do make a mistake, etc…. apologies are acceptable.

It is right and true. No matter how open minded you are, it is a “minus” for a teacher to apologize to a student. He loses the trust of the student, the kid wants to know there is someone stable, mature there, someone he can talk to if he needs and advise. And of course there is a serious possibility to take advantage of the apology, the kids don’t have the wisdom to estimate well the superiority of their teacher (who will recognize his mistake). So, it should be avoided and used only in really serious occasions.