Newbie teacher question- Did I make a mistake?

[Anonymous]

Somebody has to teach manners to a child and if the parent isn't doing this, then thank heavens for you, OP. Someone visiting my home with her obnoxious 7 yr old daughter who kept playing with a crystal candy dish. I went to put it away and her mother said, "No, don't do that because she has to learn not to play with other people's things," and about that time the damn kid threw it on the floor and it broke. I yelled at her and told her she needed a time out. The little brat didn't even cry but she went to a chair for a time out. It is the parent's fault if their kid doesn't behave but I don't have to put up with brats, particularly in my home. I might also add that they were never invited back.

[Anonymous]

Good job, op. I am also a teacher.

[Anonymous]

OP, there is an etiquette rule about correcting children. The rule is that only a person in a position of authority over the child should correct that child, unless there are no people in authority around that child, in which case anyone seeing misbehavior should step up and correct the child. Finally, anyone may correct a child to prevent harm to self or child, all else notwithstanding.

Here's how this works:

If you are invited to a child's house for dinner (a social occasion) and the child misbhaves in front of his parents, you should NOT correct him. The parents are present. Even if they don't do anything about the child's misbehavior -- as long as it isn't harming you of course -- you must not say anything.

If you meet the child and his family after church and the child interupts or misbahves, and the parents are present, again you must not say anything.

If you see the child at the park, and his parents aren't present, you may correct the child.

If you are on a school field trip, even if the parents come too, you do have authority over the child and you may correct the child.

After school events are a bit of a gray area. As a teacher, I always assumed that if we are at school, I am still in authority over the child and even if the parents are there, I feel fine correcting the children as need be.

As you were at a school event, I think in terms of etiquette you were fine in what you said. However you might feel a bit unsure about it because it wasn't totally clear, was this a school event or a social event?

This is crazy talk. If your kid is interrupting me, irritating me, or otherwise making a nuisance of himself, I will feel totally comfortable gently correcting him. You did just fine, OP.