How to Get Out of Trouble at School

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Everyone knows that sinking feeling you get in your stomach when you’re in trouble. You know you’ve done something wrong and are about to get caught, but you want to avoid major trouble. When the teacher or principal admonishes you for your behavior, there are a few things you can do to avoid a tricky situation.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Acting Your Way Out of Trouble

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    If you are lying about breaking a rule, don’t show that you’re nervous.
    • Keep eye contact with the person you’re speaking to. It may be difficult, but they are more likely to believe you if you look them in the eyes while you’re telling your story.
    • Stand up straight. People who are lying unconsciously lean back to get away from the person they’re having a conversation with. [1]
    • Don’t stammer or say “um.” These are signs that you’re nervous and making up what you’re going to say. Use strong, clear speech.
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    Cry if you feel comfortable enough faking it. [2] The teacher or principal might take pity on you if you act upset.
    • Pretend you’re crying because you can’t believe they would accuse you of bad behavior. If you pretend to cry because you’re sorry, then you will probably still face consequences for whatever you did wrong.
    • If you get upset enough, you may even get an apology from the teacher or principal. You also just might be allowed to miss a little bit of class to compose yourself.
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    [3] Being respectful and doing as you’re told might convince your teacher or principal to let you off the hook for good behavior.
    • Keep eye contact to show that you’re listening, and don’t speak out of turn. No matter what, never raise your voice in anger or cause any disruption. This will only make the problem worse.
    • Thank the teacher or principal when you leave the office. This also shows respect, and may convince your them that you deserve another chance to mature to their standards.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Being Honest

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    Be the first to admit what you did wrong, and you may get a lesser punishment.
    • Going to an authority figure and telling them what you did wrong shows that you are mature enough to accept the consequences for your actions. This might cause them to take it a little easier on you.
    • In some cases, you may get a lesser punishment like having to visit the counselor for a week, but this is better than being expelled.
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    [4] Saying you’re sorry means that you know and regret what you did, and may soften up your teacher or principal. Approach them humbly and say that you apologize for whatever inconvenience you caused and that you didn't want to offend them (if that is the case). This will show your maturity.
    • If you don’t apologize, they might take it to mean that you don’t regret what you did. If that’s the case, they may even give you a worse punishment to make you learn your lesson.
    • Tell them that you won’t ever do it again. This shows that you have learned from your mistake.
    • A well-written apology letter is a great way help get yourself off the hook. Good writing skills show a teacher how smart and mature you are, and they may be so impressed that they rethink punishing you.
    • A written apology will also be a good idea if you are too shy to approach your teacher or principal directly.
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    Be truthful about what you did wrong, but don’t admit to anything more.
    • If you genuinely don't understand why you got in trouble, it's time to have a talk with your instructor. Ask them what you did and how you can improve in the future.
    • If a teacher tries to accuse you of something that you really aren’t guilty of, don’t be afraid to stand your ground. You should not be punished if you didn’t commit the crime.
    • When you are being unfairly punished for something you did not do, then go to the principal. If the principal doesn’t believe you, then go to your parents. They are more likely to believe you and will speak up for you at school if they need to.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Amends

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    Take some time to think about what you’ve done wrong, why you did it, and how your behavior has affected other people. [5]
    • Be aware of why you behaved wrongly, and of how this behavior has impacted the people around you. If you focus on the root reasons of your behavior and how you are making other people feel with your actions, it will probably make you think before you act next time.
    • You should understand that teachers and principals are responsible for your safety, and a lot of times discipline comes down to safety issues.
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    If you’re in trouble, offering to work off your punishment will help keep you in the teacher’s good graces. Ask if you can clean up trash on the school grounds or straighten up your classroom at the end of the day.
    • Admitting your mistake and offering to make up for it in a way that helps the school will look good to any teacher or principal.
    • This also shows that you are mature and willing to accept the consequences of your actions. If teachers know how good you can be, it may even keep you out of trouble in the future.
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    If you have a younger person looking up to you for cues on how to act at school, you are more likely to behave. This also shows teachers that you can be a responsible person. [6]
    • Be a good example, and offer to mentor a younger student who is being disruptive at school. You can offer good advice to help the student, and seeing bad behavior from a different perspective will help you reevaluate your own actions.
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      Tips

      • Always remember to think before you act in school. If you don't, you will likely get in trouble over and over again.
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      • If you write an apology letter, say sorry about what you did, and promise never to do it again, it works just fine.
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      • Tell the truth, especially if they're likely to find out the truth anyway.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • You can admit to something that you may not have done but is less of an offense, rather than confessing to what you actually did. To teachers this is very believable, as they think that because you admitted to breaking a school rule, you must be telling the truth. This can drastically reduce your punishment, and also leave an honest impression on teachers.
      • When the teacher is asking questions, don't get nervous and say something that something that might make them wonder that you're up to something.
      • Be completely honest and don't call other names.
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      Warnings

      • These tips won't work for everyone in every situation. Sometimes, You just have to accept your punishment and move forward.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/let-their-words-do-the-talking/201411/9-subtle-signs-someones-lying-you
      2. ↑ https://www.scoopify.org/how-to-make-yourself-cry/
      3. ↑ https://www.online-paralegal-programs.com/legal-rights/
      4. ↑ https://www.aconsciousrethink.com/8562/take-responsibility/
      5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pura-vida/201105/the-forgiveness-protocol-how-apologize-when-you-have-hurt-or-harmed-another
      6. ↑ https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/building-effective-peer-mentoring-programs-intro-guide.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Getting in trouble at school is never fun, but with a little convincing you may be able to get out of it. When your teacher or principal questions you about what happened, tell your story confidently and maintain eye contact, since acting confidently will make you seem more believable. If you don’t think you’ll get away with it, try crying a little, which might make them have pity on you. Whatever route you choose, make sure to be polite and don’t interrupt, since this might make them more angry. Apologize for what you did and tell them it won’t ever happen again. To learn how to write an apology letter to get out of trouble, read on!

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