Summary: Jesus gave us the example to follow. When reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. He kept entrusting himself to Him who judges righteously. Be like Jesus. Don’t lash back and crush a volunteer, or a kid or another staff person. Don’t return evil for evil, but give a blessing instead. You’ll be glad you did.
Over the years I have carried a small newspaper clipping in my pocket. The small quote reads: “I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my mood that makes the weather. As the teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make another person’s life miserable or joyous. My words can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalate it and another person humiliated or lifted up.”
I learned this lesson first in the classroom as a chemistry teacher. Here you are. You’re teaching and a student throws you a disrespectful bomb in an attempt to derail and disrupt the whole class. The choice now sits before you. A literal fork in the road. You could return evil for evil. This public malalignment will certainly shut them up for the moment. However it does nothing but cause more difficulties. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult.
When I return evil for evil to a mouthy student, I have just showcased to every other kid in my group that the same thing could happen to them. This teacher could publically humiliate me. Therefore, I will no longer take the risk of offering any answers. The whole group safety dynamic will instantly take a nosedive. Your initial reaction is going to be an indication of how the rest of the situation is going to play out. Crushing the group dynamic is a poor trade-off to somehow put a kid in his place.
Jesus gave us the example to follow. When reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. What Jesus did under the painful remarks, ridicule and even torture? He kept entrusting himself to Him who judges righteously. Be like Jesus. Don’t lash back and crush a volunteer, or a kid or another staff person. Don’t return evil for evil, but give a blessing instead. You’ll be glad you did.