How do we handle mistakes other than to circle, annotate, and highlight with a bright, red pen?

The other way is with the eraser: the correction that makes the error disappear.

We can use a red pen publicly. Or we an use an eraser privately; not necessarily secretly, but not on the grandstand either. We can do it collaboratively, one to one.

If you’ve been on the receiving end of this, then you know the feeling of great relief when you don’t hear, “You’ll pay for this,” and instead hear, “Let’s make this right, like it never happened.”

There’s a time and place for certain kinds of accountability. But there’s also a place for mercy, forgiveness, and clearing the slate.