My trust has been broken...

PrincessSarah1979 · September 2010

So today I discovered that a student stole $100 out of my briefcase at work. Let me back up. I am teacher at a high school of about 1700 students (9-12). This is my 8th year and in that entire time I have never had a thing stolen (other than pencils "walking off"). Nothing has ever been moved on my desk or touched without permission. I have left my cell and digital camera on my desk and neither have been touched. But yesterday I left my briefcase unattended for 5 minutes and $100 vanished. Now DH and are lucky that we didn't need that $ in order to eat or anything and it's not the theft that bothers me the most, it is the disrespect and violation of my things. I know that most people would say, "why leave your stuff unattended?" I did for 8 years and so do many others in my building, despite the gangs and problem students very rarely are things stolen or money taken. I am so upset at the violation...it will take a long time for me to trust kids again...so sad when I always trusted first...this just makes me feel so sad today.

holiday819 · September 2010

i'm so sorry that happened. but i understand why you would leave your things unattended you've done it for so long and nothing. i hope that the kid who took it from you feels guilty and returns your money.

elizjane26 · September 2010

I'm sorry. That sucks. Do you think you'll find out who did it?

dxiechicken41 · September 2010

That's terrible. I know how you feel, I had a student steal my Blackberry last year off of my desk (a 5th grader!). (We found it, but I digress)...it infuriates you, knowing how much you put into these kids and how much they seem to put in back, and to have something like this happen...ugh. So sorry. Bigggg speech to your kids/guilt trip the hell out of them. Blame the baby. Whatever you gotta do. Most likely the thief told SOMEONE out there and hopefully they'll sympathize and 'fess up.

Molluskwrangler · September 2010

I can relate, it wasn't with students but interns at the restaurant I was a pastry chef at. My knives were stolen, I kept them in my office and the door was always open..I never took them home unless I needed to sharpen them, I came in the day after one of the interns went back to school and my knives were gone with her.

MichelleL1118 · September 2010

I had something similar happen this summer while in a professional development workshop with other advanced placement teachers. I left my bag unattended for less than 5 minutes, with others still in the room, to run to the bathroom, and later realized that $80 had been taken. Thankfully, I've never had anything disappear from my classroom, but I never leave my room unlocked with my personal belongings in there, either. I've had too many friends/co-workers over the years who have had students steal from them to take the risk.

PrincessSarah1979 · September 2010

elizjane26:
I'm sorry. That sucks. Do you think you'll find out who did it?

I don't think we will find out who did it. There are a possible of 9 boys who had access but 8 of them are super close and would never give one another up. The 9th is a wild card, but has gang ties and this is not kosher with gangs in town to steal from teachers (tag their property yes, steal $ at school no).

I totally played the pregnancy guilt card. It helped that when I get truly angry and hurt I get teary eyed, some kids were super upset just at the thought that I was upset and teary while pregnant.