Welcome to the Novice Teacher Professional Development: Improper Student/Teacher Relationships

Please sign in and put on your name tag. There are refreshments and snacks available

in the back.

Why are you here?http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/teacher-student-relationships-15843582

Because you don’t want to end up a teacher turned infamous criminal!

How much do you know?

TRUE OR FALSE?

1. It is appropriate to be friends with your students on

Facebook.

2. It is appropriate to e-mail student about school work

through the school e-mail system.

3. It is not appropriate to be alone in the classroom with a

student.

4. It is not appropriate to post information about student

anonymously in a blog.

5. It is appropriate to tutor a student privately

How much do you know?6. It is appropriate, if you lead an extracurricular group, to text a

student about meeting times for practice.

7. It is appropriate to follow a student on Twitter.

8. It is not appropriate to drive a student somewhere, even with

parental permission.

9. It is appropriate to be friends with students, both in and out of the

classroom.

10. It is not appropriate to talk about students to other students,

even if what you say is positive.

Improper Student/Teacher RelationshipsThe goal of this professional development is

for you to be able to understand what is considered an improper relationship and have the skills and knowledge to prevent improper relationships from forming.

Learning ObjectivesProperly define and identify what is an improper

relationshipDistinguish between improper and proper

relationshipsComprehend and comply to the necessary actions

that must be taken if one is in danger of crossing the boundary of proper and improper relationships

Comprehends the consequences of having an improper relationship

Identify ways to avoid getting into improper relationships

What is an improper relationship with a student?Discuss with your group…An inappropriate relationship is when a

teacher solicits and/or engages in sexual conduct or romantic relationship, inappropriate communication and/or the furnishing of alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs with/to a student

If you are here it is because you are an educator. Educators must abide by Association of American Educators and Texas Educators Code of Ethics.

Are you familiar with these codes of ethics? Lets see…

Association of American Educators Code of Ethics for Educators

PRINCIPLE II: Ethical Conduct toward Practices and PerformanceThe professional educator assumes responsibility and accountability for his or her performance and continually strives to demonstrate competence. The professional educator endeavors to maintain the dignity of the profession by respecting and obeying the law, and by demonstrating personal integrity.

1. The professional educator applies for, accepts, or assigns a position or a responsibility on the basis of professional qualifications, and adheres to the terms of a contract or appointment.

2. The professional educator maintains sound mental health, physical stamina, and social prudence necessary to perform the duties of any professional assignment.

3. The professional educator continues professional growth.4. The professional educator complies with written local school policies and

applicable laws and regulations that are not in conflict with this code of ethics.

5. The professional educator does not intentionally misrepresent official policies of the school or educational organizations, and clearly distinguishes those views from his or her own personal opinions.

6. The professional educator honestly accounts for all funds committed to his or her charge.

7. The professional educator does not use institutional or professional privileges for personal or partisan advantage.

Texas Educator Code of EthicsStandard 3.6. The educator shall not solicit or engage in

sexual conduct or a romantic relationship with a student or minor.

Standard 3.7. The educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to any person under 21 years of age unless the educator is a parent or guardian of that child or knowingly allow any person under 21 years of age unless the educator is a parent or guardian of that child to consume alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs in the presence of the educator.

Standard 3.8. The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.

Standard 3.9. The educator shall refrain from inappropriate communication with a student or minor, including, but not limited to, electronic communication such as cell phone, text messaging, email, instant messaging, blogging, or other social network communication. Factors that may be considered in assessing whether the communication is inappropriate include, but are not limited to:

(i) the nature, purpose, timing, and amount of the communication;

(ii) the subject matter of the communication;

(iii) whether the communication was made openly or the educator attempted to conceal the communication;

(iv) whether the communication could be reasonably interpreted as soliciting sexual contact or a romantic relationship;

(v) whether the communication was sexually explicit; and

(vi) whether the communication involved discussion(s) of the physical or sexual attractiveness or the sexual history, activities, preferences, or fantasies of either the educator or the student.

As an educator you are prohibited from…Embarking on a romantic relationship with a

studentMaking sexual comments to a student or

commenting about a student’s body in an unprofessional manner

Talking about a student’s sexual history Improper hugging, kissing, or excessive touchingPlanning a romantic relationship with a student

after he/she graduatesProviding a student or students with drugs and/or

alcohol

Now that we know what not to do how to we avoid it?The following are tips for new teachers from

TCTA (Texas Classroom Teachers Association)Find a mentor teacher if one hasn’t been

assigned to you. Your mentor can help give you guidance and support in your new profession.

Always seek out additional training to enhance your skills as a teacher and to keep on the professional track.

Keep it ProfessionalAlways remember that YOU are the teacher and the

professional!You are not a peer to your studentsDo NOT invite student to your home Avoid sharing too much personal information. Also, don’t

share inside jokes or inappropriate remarks. Do NOT flirt with students.

Keep a professional and modest appearance. Don’t “hang out” with students outside of school and/or

school activities. Remember, you are not their best friend!

Do not provide any alcohol or drugs to students or condone consumption.

Keep it ProfessionalEven if your intentions are innocent, putting

yourself into a situation (ex. Having students at your home, contacting them on social networks, being with student outside of school/school activities, etc.) can give the impression that the relationship is inappropriate to others

What happens if you don’t keep it professional?You can possibly lose your job and get your

teaching certificate revoked!Depending on the situation you can even

obtain felony charges. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/video?id=9121922&pid=9122012

What would you do?Think about what you would do and write

your answers on the paper provided.1. A student who struggles in your class and

rarely speaks approaches you at the end of class and tells you that they would like to tell you something privately. They ask if they can meet you after school at a local coffee shop near their house. You feel that this student is calling out to you for help. What is the appropriate course of action to take:

What would you do?2. A student of the opposite sex seems to have

developed a crush on you; they linger in your classroom after the bell rings and look for excuses to try to touch you. You have spoken to them about how this behavior is inappropriate, and while the student no longer touches you, you still feel uncomfortable around them. You believe that the student still has an unhealthy attraction to you. What is your next step?

What would you do?3. You help out your school by coaching the

girls’ volleyball team in a small district. After an evening away game, all of your students get picked up by their parents until only one is left. After trying to reach the child’s parents with no success, the child asks if you can drive them home. What should you do?

What would you do?4. In your English class, one of your students

suggests creating a Facebook group for the class, so that assignments can be posted there and any questions about the reading can be discussed. Quickly, all of the students jump on board with the idea. Your school does not have a rule against being friends with students on Facebook, but you know that it is discouraged. What do you do to find a compromise?

Are there any questions, comments, and/or concerns?

How much did you learn?TRUE OR FALSE?

1. It is appropriate to be friends with your students on

Facebook.

2. It is appropriate to e-mail student about school work

through the school e-mail system.

3. It is not appropriate to be alone in the classroom with a

student.

4. It is not appropriate to post information about student

anonymously in a blog.

5. It is appropriate to tutor a student privately

How much do you know?6. It is appropriate, if you lead an extracurricular group, to text a

student about meeting times for practice.

7. It is appropriate to follow a student on Twitter.

8. It is not appropriate to drive a student somewhere, even with

parental permission.

9. It is appropriate to be friends with students, both in and out of

the classroom.

10. It is not appropriate to talk about students to other students,

even if what you say is positive.

ResourcesTexas Education Agency (2011, June 23).

Educators' Code of Ethics. Retrieved June 17,2013, from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147501244&menu_id=771&menu_id2=794

Texas Classroom Teachers Association. (2013). Improper Relationships with Students. Retrieved fromhttp://www.tcta.org/node/12941

Association of American Educators (n.d.). Code of Ethics for Educators. Retrieved from http://www.aaeteachers.org/index.php/about-us

That is all! Thank you for participating in the novice teacher professional development: improper student/teacher relationships.