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Teachers’ missteps have dire consequences

February 22, 2011 Gaylene Schreiber, Secretary to the Discipline Committee

Red-faced after Facebook posting

Teachers are expected to maintain the honour and dignity of the teaching profession at all times and to refrain from injuring the standing of colleagues. To this end, they should not post compromising photographs of themselves and/or their colleagues on social media sites.

The case

While on holiday together, a teacher and her school principal took sexually suggestive photographs featuring a prominent public monument. Upon returning from holiday, without asking permission of the principal, the teacher posted her vacation photos, including the compromising ones, to her Facebook profile. The teacher had given friend status to certain members of the school community, including parents of current and former students, thus allowing them to see and copy the photos. The photos were circulated throughout the community, and caused considerable embarrassment to the teacher and the principal. Subsequently, members of the community used the photos to seek job action against the principal. Posting the photos harmed the reputation and professional standing of the principal.

Findings of the hearing committee

The ATA’s hearing committee found the charged member guilty of unprofessional conduct on two charges and levied a fine of $500 and a letter of severe reprimand.

The hearing committee reasoned that the teacher undermined her own dignity and that of her principal and the teaching profession, and did not consider the ramifications of her online actions, including the potential injury to her principal’s professional standing in the community. The committee asserted that teachers have the responsibility to protect the dignity of the profession in all their actions.

Hangovers are best left at home

Teachers are expected to uphold the honour and dignity of the profession and should not attend school when they are hungover.

The case

A teacher attended an evening Christmas party, consumed ­alcohol and arrived home in the early hours of the morning. When he arrived at work the next morning, staff could tell that he had had a lot to drink the night before and questioned him as to whether he should be at work. The teacher admitted to being hungover. During the time he was at school, the teacher did not attempt to teach class but did interact with several students. The teacher’s supervisor directed him to go home, and the teacher complied.

Findings of the hearing committee

The ATA’s hearing committee found the teacher guilty of unprofessional conduct and ordered a verbal reprimand. The committee considered that the teacher had not taught class, had immediately complied with the supervisor’s request to go home and had expressed considerable remorse to his jurisdictional leadership for his inappropriate behaviour.

The teacher, who was on a probationary contract, was not offered a continuing contract at the end of the school year.

Teacher–student conflict spirals out of control

Teachers are expected to treat all students with dignity and respect, and with consideration of their circumstances. Thus, in a situation where a conflict between a student and teacher becomes corrosive, it is the teacher’s continuing obligation to behave professionally in physical and verbal interactions with the student, both at school and in the community.

The case

The working relationship between an experienced high school teacher and a student deteriorated to the point of open hostility. At school, the teacher refused to serve the student at the school’s concession. At a store in the community, the teacher refused to go through a line where the student worked as a cashier, insisting on having another cashier assist her. The teacher also inadvertently hit the student on the arm with a metre stick when she attempted to get his attention by striking his desk. The teacher also failed to treat other students respectfully and publicly embarrassed one student by referring to his private legal troubles.

Findings of the hearing ­committee

The ATA’s hearing committee found the teacher guilty on two counts of unprofessional conduct and ordered a letter of reprimand.

The committee noted that the teacher had an obligation to treat her students with respect and dignity at all times, and that she had failed to do so on numerous occasions. It was noted that the teacher was in a position of authority and trust; she should not have used ridicule to control students, struck the desk, or refused to serve a student or be served by him.

In deliberation of penalty, the committee considered that the teacher had attempted to apologize to the parents for her actions and in a written statement had expressed considerable remorse for her actions in a conflict that had spiralled out of her control.

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