Common Sense + Educator Ethics

posted by: Cindy Omlin | January 12, 2011, 10:54 PM

I received an email over the break that started me thinking and also disappointed me. Basically, the email inquired about teacher training dealing with appropriate behavior and relationships between teachers and students. It was not the inquiry which was an issue for me. I want to help people find the professional resources they need. My issue was with the need for this inquiry to be made.

Quite honestly, I am puzzled and saddened when an inappropriate situation between a student and teacher comes to light. Isn't it common sense to recognize that teachers are adults and students are children? And whether or not you have a fairly new teacher and a 5th year senior or a seasoned veteran and a recent teen, don't the lines of professionalism seem pretty obvious? Even if not discussed in a pre-service meeting or back-to-school training? Am I completely wrong to assume this? Answer: If classes are being requested, then apparently I am wrong to assume.

With that said, since I was asked about programs which teach educator ethics, I did some research on the subject. It seems that schools, districts, and even states mention proper teacher-student interactions in a handbook or even a code of ethics, but I didn't find any specific course produced by a college or company. Maybe it is best to keep this training on a local level so that trainings can be developed to address specific needs for the school/district.

For example, above I reference a Christian Science Monitor article from 2001 which mentions one training that instructs teachers and students not to exchange emails with one another. Yet, some schools in the U.S. require email communication between of their teachers and students. I voluntarily offered my school email address to my students, letting them know that it was to be used only for school-related issues such as homework. To go beyond emailing, at the highly-successful KIPP schools teachers provide students with their cell phone numbers for questions about homework. Ten years after the article, is that still considered inappropriate? In my opinion, it’s not necessarily the mode of the communication, but the content found within that can cause problems.

In response to the email, I sent over the AAE Code of Ethics. I find this little document to be invaluable. It offers a solid framework for how a truly professional educator should conduct himself or herself without getting too detailed. I see it as common sense for educators. If a teacher will understand and follow guidelines such as these, there will rarely be a need for "appropriate behavior and conduct" training.

One of my mentors in life, who was also an effective leader and teacher once said, "I teach people correct principles and they govern themselves." As professional educators, can we expect the same of ourselves? Do we need to have minute details spelled out to us regarding correct behavior in the profession of education? Or can we take our common sense, combine it with professional principles of how to conduct ourselves, and find ourselves miles away from any concerns of propriety in and out of the classroom? I think we can. I think we must. If we're going to be teachers, then we must recognize that we are influential. We are role models (at all times). And we are too professional to allow impropriety in our relationships with students.

What training, if any, have you received regarding this topic? Was the curriculum created by your school/district? Or was it a curriculum purchased from an outside company/organization?

Originally posted by Jill at AAE.