My gut feeling: The out-of-class apology was more than enough. I don't know if I would have even gone that far. The previous in-class behavior is what precipitated your response. I'd bet anything that other students in the class are sick to death of the mocking and were probably tickled you responded as you did. To make a public apology may embolden him and the class may be dismayed as well.
Maybe in the weeks to come you can semi-joke about it, but I don't think you should make a formal apology to the class. Beth Benoit On 10/2/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi all, > > I had a gaffe in my (college level) human sexuality class. I was answering > questions out of a "hat" (anonymous questions) about sexual anatomy and > function. I also had a couple of students sitting together raising their > hands and asking questions non-anonymously, a couple of which seemed from > time to time of a mocking nature but generally mostly serious questions. One > of the students asked if periods were expelled pregnancies and I let my > surprise about that level of lack of knowledge show briefly. I immediately > realized that it was not appropriate for me to do so in a forum that was > supposed to encourage questions. I did apologize to the student after > class but I wonder if I should acknowledge my mistake to the rest of the > class too in order to ensure that no one will feel discouraged from > asking questions. > > In my defense I must say that both students tend to ask mocking questions > in most discussion activities. The one I reacted to has taken the class > before and not finished and it has been clear that he wasn't exactly taking > it seriously last time either. Lots of "shock value" statements etc. > > Nancy Melucci > Long Beach City College > Long Beach CA > > > --- > > ------------------------------ > Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL > Mail<http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970> > ! > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription go > to:http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english > > ---
