Intention of the report
The teaching profession is one of the most challenging fields of human lives since it involves molding the behavior and character of different students from the diverse society. Because of the diversity of the students, tutors and lecturers encounter so many activities by students and all of these they are required to deal with them accordingly. An interesting part is that many students influenced by peer groups and the need to belong to a group always plan for various activities. However, there are those who know what they came to do in school and for them they concentrate on their studies and fail to recognize what is happening in their surrounding. Teachers and lecturer have ethical code of conduct and they will always act according to the acceptable rules and regulations when dealing with students cases. Choosing a teaching profession is thus one of the most tasking activity since one has to deal with students of diverse character and the society expects that by the time the students finishes the learning process, they should have been well molded and ready to take up roles in the society professionally.
Usually, the school environment is not conducive for every student since some see it as a way of wasting time, thus they will engage in strange activities as a way of making the process interesting. However, in turn what they plan to do is normally against the school rules and regulations. The teachers therefore, need to have a counseling department where both reported unreported cases of misconduct can be handled. Student counselors are professional in this field and they usually interact with the student largely so that they can establish some of the problems that students might be undergoing. They need to work closely with the teachers and sometimes some are tutors so that the can identify some misconduct and be able to address it before worsening.
A snapshot of the critical incident
Our second semester had just begun and I was attending lectures as usual. IT 300, being one of the common courses in college, there are so many students of over 1000 taking the course. Hardly had we settle for the beginning of the lectures when the dean of students entered the classroom. This time not with the intention of delivering one of his motivational speeches, but he carried a small piece of paper and wearing a stone-faced look, which suggested to everyone that all was not well. He proceeded right to the podium and as if to confirm that everyone was attentive, he passed a strong look across the class and before long he call out my name. In disbelief, out of over 1000 students I wondered why he I had picked on my name. This was strange and I hesitated to respond. This caused him alarmed and he repeat the same, but this time round with an ear deafening sound. The second call even paralyzed my body because I knew the consequences of undergoing through the disciplinary process.
Variables that affected me and the other parties in the incident
From the second call, I really confirmed that the lecturer wanted me and I had no other alternative other than to stand up and hear what he had to say. I was frighten beyond expression as everyone in the classroom now turned to look at me wondering what I had committed. The consequence of being summoned is one of the variables that affected me. I did not know what to do but he asked me to accompany him to his office. Some of my friends I am sure were feeling sorry for me while others were just mesmerized by the turn of events. Before I step out of my position, I whispered to my friend to accompany me for wherever he had on me of which she did not refused. I have never committed any crime in my entire life and here I was being summoned by the dean of students. Another variable that affected me was the fact that I thought that someone might have framed me against some fake allegations. As we jerked out of the classroom everyone was left in shocked since no one had any form of misconduct that had happened and this must be one those cases which deals with security issues. I recollected my courage and followed him silently to his office. Neither I nor him asked a question as we proceeded to his office. The other students remained calm anticipating what I might have done to deserve this kind of treatment.
Attitudes that enhanced and hindered the interactions
Being a Christian and the fact that I had not committed any crime encouraged me and I admit that the chief attitude that enhanced my courage to face the dean is innocence that I knew I had. With my friend’s willingness to support me in whatever case, I felt that nothing could not be resolved between the dean and me. Having been brought up with religious beliefs I knew that nothing is impossible and incase of anything I would defend myself courageously. On the other hand, the dean is known to be a lively person but on that day, he possessed a different look and in bet no one could have dared face such a situation with the courage tat I had. This fact of stone-faced hindered our interaction as we proceed to his office, I did not know what he was thinking so I could not raise a question. While on his side what I had committed amounted to no communication between him and me.
How my thinking affected the scenario
After gaining courage and letting the fears off me, I reflected upon the crimes that I might have committed but none amounted to being summoned by the dean. Deep within me I new that I was innocence and they could not succeed in framing me. I thought of my hard work in school and felt that such a think should never have happened to me. Whoever was behind this must pay for it dearly. Upon reaching to his office there were other members of the disciplinary committee and they brought the allegation immediately. The allegation was that I was the main student organizing for a strike. This shocked me beyond doubts and for a second in thought the world was coming to an end cause such a think I never even cross my mind. Now being accused of it was totally something different. I defended myself strongly against all they had and at the end they were left agape because they might have been given the wrong information. Thank God I managed to convince them beyond reasonable doubts that I had nothing to do with any students’ strike. They now went back to the initial information to establish the truth of the matter of which I was realized without any penalty.
What I would do to achieve a better outcome
Considering how strange the situation was, I realized the need for being open to everyone including the administration and student leaders. By coming to the open, everyone would know your character and who are your friend. Therefore, in such a situation both the students and the administration cannot doubt nor have anything to accuse you. This could have even helped them look for the real culprits instead of having vague information on the supposed planned strike. This being delicate issues that would affect both the students and the administration, saw the need for taking part time courses on students counseling and mentorship. I could be a resource to the institution and help them in providing real information on the ground rather than them relying on ear say. I resolved that if I had engaged in such related activities, I would even be better placed. I resolved that it is better to attend basic courses such as guiding and counseling that can help me help and my peers avoid such cases of misconduct which can ruined one’s life. Volunteering to offer information could also help since students could not just be picked without enough evidence that they are involved in bad behaviors.
Recommendations
Based on my experience, I recommend that the school administration should always work closely with the students and learn the character of everyone from the time they join the institution to the time they will finished. They can do this better by assigning every teacher or lecturer to a given number of students, and they should be ready to work with them molding, and shaping their character according to the accepted ethics of the society. This is necessary because each teacher would be in a position to learn the type of student they are handling and if they have certain bad behavior it can be resolved easily within those groups.
It is also advisable that every institution should implement laws and regulations that serve all the students. The introduction of basic counseling skills should also be taught to enable all the students be responsible and know what they came to do in school. The teaching and none teaching staff should work hand in hand to identify the entire student’s character and avoid cases of framing someone falsely.
Conclusion
When faced with difficult situation students, teachers and the non teaching staff should always be ready to help one another and resolve issues for the benefit of everyone. Facing issues courageously is essential especially if one is sure that he has never committed any crime and this would even help remove doubts by the investigating team. Since these are every day occurrence, we should all have approaches of dealing with the situation professionally and avoid cases of intimidation. From that day, I have learned to be open to my seniors as well as my friends so that they can also defend me in such a situation. Having the right techniques of addressing students’ issues is mandatory for every institution. However, some situations, which call for more help especially from psychiatrist and counselors.
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