I was suspended for using my phone at school.
Hello all! I’m a 14-year-old Brazilian in 9th grade, and I’ve had a few run-ins with the recent law banning cell phone use in schools. The first time I got caught was in class—I thought it was no big deal, but I received a warning. The second time was during break, and I honestly didn’t know we couldn’t use phones at that time either.
Today was my third offense. It was 12:12 PM, just a few minutes before the final bell, and everyone was playing UNO with our teacher in the classroom. I figured it would be safe to sneak out my phone in the corner, but my teacher quickly caught me and sent me to the coordinator. During our conversation, I tried to buy some time and avoid the issue, but I ended up getting suspended until my parents could come in. I asked if I could speak with the other coordinator to possibly have the suspension lifted, but he said I could only do that when school resumes next Thursday.
Now, I have a couple of options:
- Hope they forget about it and just go in next Thursday, acting confident that nothing will come of it and that everyone will be too caught up in Carnival to remember me.
- Break down and plead with the coordinator, but I’m not even sure what to say since this is my third strike.
The one thing I absolutely cannot do is let my parents find out about this suspension.
It sounds like you’re in a tough situation. While it might feel tempting to hope that everyone will forget about the suspension, it’s important to consider the consequences of avoiding the issue. Here are some suggestions:
Talk to the Coordinator: Instead of crying or being overly casual, consider approaching the coordinator with sincerity. Acknowledge that you understand why the rule is in place and that you’ve learned from it. Express that you genuinely want to improve your behavior moving forward.
Plan Your Approach: Think about what you want to say ahead of time. You could mention that it was not your intention to disrespect school rules and that you’re dedicated to following them in the future. Being honest can go a long way.
Accept Responsibility: Taking responsibility for your actions can show maturity. You can explain that you didn’t realize the rules applied during breaks and that you won’t make the same mistake again.
Involve Your Friends: If your classmates are supportive, maybe you can collectively express to the teacher or coordinator how you believe the phone usage could be managed better during free time. This shows you’re trying to create a solution rather than just focusing on your punishment.
Consider the Consequences: If your parents find out later, it might lead to more trouble. Addressing the situation now might prevent a worse scenario down the line.
Remember, everyone makes mistakes, and what matters most is how you handle them. Good luck!