An Unforgettable Incident
It's really funny how sometimes the simplest and smallest things in life make us realize the most complicated truths of life. I believe it's nature's way of showing us that everything happens for a reason.
Most of you know am a teacher. I am proud of what I do because being a teacher gives me the opportunity to shape the lives of students in the best possible way while bringing out the best in them.
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I was to invigilate the West African Senior School Certificate Examination which was being held in my school. During invigilation, the teacher needs to go up and down the rows of students, making sure no student is involved in examination malpractice.
There were over two hundred students writing the exam. Although I wasn't the only invigilator in the hall, trust me when I say invigilation is one of the toughest thing any teacher could ever do.
The students were writing Mathematics that day, and we all know how important it is for these students to use their calculators in solving the math questions. However, having your calculator with its case was not allowed. They were to either place the case under their desk or leave it inside their school bag before coming into the hall.
It is presumed that students might have somehow hidden some notes inside the calculator case which will aid them in the examination. This is termed to be examination malpractice, and it's never allowed among students.
As I was going up and down the student's rows, I came to a student who had not removed his calculator from its case. I immediately told him to remove the case and put it under his desk, but he told me he can't do that.
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I then told him that he really needs to do that, but he still insisted that he can't, claiming that the calculator is attached to its case. He went ahead to show me the calculator. I took it, looked at it and indeed, the case cannot be detached because it was hinged to the calculator.
Even after seeing that the case cannot be detached, I still insisted he removes the case from the calculator. I felt dismayed and a little indignant. I then asked myself if the student did not read the rules? It was an important rule he shouldn't have missed. I felt the student's helplessness, but I still took the calculator and ripped the case off.
I immediately felt a hot wave rush over me... I had done what needed to be done! I felt righteous. Just some seconds later, another hot wave swept over me, this time it was of shame and horror. What have I done? I have just broken a student's calculator... and for what? What was I thinking? I immediately walked up to the student and apologized.
I have always assumed and believed that I was a good person, I guess I was wrong after that act I portrayed. I know am not a bad person either, maybe I am just average person... 😔
The fact remains that I was tested, and I gave in. Guess I was as susceptible to the evil that waits inside us just as anyone/everyone else. I vowed that very day never to let this happen again.
I was lucky I got away with that this time. There are others who face issues like this that finds it difficult to climb out. Guess I have learnt my lesson.
Anytime I find myself in a position of authority over another, I always remember this incident with the student. I am now more conscious of things and inclined to step back and look at things carefully before taking actions.
I often tell others this story, so they can learn from my mistake. This would make them desist from acting the same way I acted, so they won't find themselves in the same mess I found myself.
Thanks for reading. I hope you learnt something ...stay safe and remain blessed.
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Well this is A tricky situation. I have once been privileged to invigilate the WASSCE. Whenever I catch a student with an exhibit, it is quite hard to make a decision. Two things come to my mind.
If I should frustrate this student's exams, I'm actually frustrating his future.
Also, if I turn a blind eye and let the student get away with the malpractice, then I'm killing the beauty of education.
It's always hard to come to conclusion on what to do at that moment... These two things you pointed out often come to mind also... Sometimes I turn a blind eye and let the student get away with it and sometimes, I get the student punished for such act...
God help us to always know the right thing to do
Honestly it is quite difficult to know the right decision to take at that point in time.
Truly it is only God that can help us make the right decision
It's tough being a teacher.. Most times you just have to compromise for humanity sake... I just pray I don't find myself in such tight corners anymore..
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Oh.... I'm so sorry you went through this. Did it completely destroy.the calculator? Or was he still able to complete his exams?
That was really good of you to go back to him and apologize though. So many people in authority would just feel justified and then never come back to admit they shouldn't have done something.
So.regardless of the situation..you used it as an opportunity to be an example of what to do AFTER the wrong has been done
And that's so valuable!!
I was lucky the calculator wasn't destroyed completely, he was still able to use it to complete his exams. I hated myself for such act.. I really don't know what came over me that day.. I thank the Almighty that I was able to admit my mistake and apologised.
I learnt a very good lesson that day and since then, I have made sure such incident never repeat itself.
Thanks so much for your comment ma'am.. I appreciate every bit of it..
These things happen..you know?
Sometimes we just act without thinking clearly.
But it's the wisest among us who use it as a lesson for the future and the most generous among us who are willing to share their faults with us so we can learn at their own expense.
So I applaud you!!
You are right ma'am.. I really hope others learn from my mistake. I wouldn't want them to fall victim of this very act... Guess that's the reason I decided to share it.
Thanks for applauding me ma'am.. Guess I did what I felt was logically right..
Examination tension and the need to keep simple rules many not be responsible in critical situations. If set rules have indicated that calculator shouldn't be used, then I don't see a fault from your end.
However, as a tutor, there may be need to be calm with learners in situations like this as you have stated.
This is a candid reminder to me that in my discharge of duty as a teacher, I should be warm in conversation and activities with the learners.
Nice work from you @davidbright, I came about your post via @dreemport.
Thanks so much for your comment. I knew I exercised my right over the student but I wasn't happy with the way I did it. I think I took it too far and that's why I had to apologise to him.
It is not easy being a teacher but we must always remind ourselves that we were once students..
Maybe, you thought he had something to hide, that's why you did it.
He was expected to comply with the rules but he was so adamant about it.. I just wanted him to put away the case of the calculator but he never wanted to and that's not because he had something to hide but because the calculator was hinged to the case
I think the pressure got to you but it's a good thing you are learning from what happened and you even apologized which many teachers wouldn't.
Found your post via @dreemport
Yea.. It did get to me... And thank goodness I learnt from that ugly incident... Thanks for your comment
I think you had a very tough decision to make on the moment and strictly speaking the student had violated the rules and you made a spur of the moment decision which you then thought through and reconsidered your decision
I think what I took most out of this was your integrity and honesty in That after rethinking it you went back and apologized
So you nay regret your first action but should be proud of your second
I found my way here via #dreemport
I sure had a tough decision to make and I allowed myself to take a rash step..
I am just happy I was able to take the bold step to apologise to him for my actions... It wasn't easy..
Thanks for your comment sir
Ohh I have no doubt it was not easy which makes it even more to be proud of that you did
Many people wouldn't apologize and many would feel the need to stick to their ways and not re-evaluate their ways. You did well in apologizing and yes, maybe he should have gotten a calculator that wouldn't be hinged to it. If it was an external invigilator, trust me, they won't mind taking the whole calculator from him and I am glad you showed you won't be like everyone else. Who knows what other invigilators with you would have done.
You faced a hard choice because a lot depends on it...
Yes, it's one thing to know the rules as they are written in the book. It is something totally different to apply it in practice under various circumstances.
But good for you for going back and apologizing. It takes a man to admit when he was wrong. I respect you for that and I believe that student does too.
I got here via @dreemport
Thanks so much for your comment.. It means alot to me. I am glad you see my act of apologising as something noble. I appreciate that.
Like I always say, every human has got a monster inside them. The good humans are those that have been able to tame their inner monsters. Sometimes, the tamed monsters spring up. That is totally normal. We should just be very careful so that these monsters do not up us in an irredeemable situation.
Found this post via @dreemport
What you have done was wrong but any times teachers or someone else who is having authority tries to implement the things in some strange way.
For once I was being disturbed in the examination hall as the teacher perceived me in the wrong way and you wouldn't believe she was being dismissed as the examiner found the real cheater in the same room
Can't tell you the embarrassment I felt when. She nominated me to leave the row and sit alone.
Came here by the suggestion of @dreemport
That's really wrong of the teacher.. So sorry you had to pass through such embarrassment. Some teachers are just that way.. I pray all teachers ain't like that..
Thanks for your comment
But as far as we know our mistakes it's neither be much late to mend them.
I know I am also going to adopt this noble profession but I am having an aim not to do the injustice.
And you won't find yourself doing such injustice since you already have an aim not to.... Teaching is a great profession and I can't wait to have more persons join us
These situations are never easy. There are rules for a reason but I think we should all come to the realisation that you did: that we need to question whether we are enforcing the rule to protect its underlying rationale, or whether we are enforcing it for its own sake. In this case, if the student clearly did not have anything concealed in the calculator then perhaps a reasonable exception should have been made. I think it is wonderful though that you had this epiphany and were humble enough to share the learning and growth experience with us. Allow yourself to let it go now... I am sure your student did long ago🙏 I came to your post via @dreemport
You are right.. The student has long forgotten this incident but I really don't know why I keep remembering it. Maybe it's just there as a reminder for me to always think before acting. I know this won't repeat itself again...
Thanks for your comment
He shouldn't have taken that calculator Into the hall. But then again, maybe he had no choice.
I don't think you should have destroyed the calculator, but at least you apologized. Most teachers wouldn't
Yea.. I blame myself for doing that. I didn't actually destroy the calculator completely, he was still able to make use of it to complete his exams. I thought I was doing what needed to be done until I realised my mistake and apologised. It's always tough being in the helm of affairs
True. Very true