Learning Goal(s):

-The teacher candidate will select appropriate strategies and procedures to effectively and ethically engage with students, families,
administrators, and other stakeholders in support of the education of diverse learners.
-The teacher candidate will create an accurate description for the following responsibilities of professional educators (9.e; 9.f; 9.s; 10.d;
10.c; Tech 4.a): Collaborating with colleagues to improve learning; Planning developmentally appropriate learning experiences or
assessments; Engaging students in the learning process; Keeping accurate records; Communicating with parents, students, or
colleagues appropriately; Participating in additional duties for the school or district communities; Understanding the Code of Ethics for
Idaho Professional educators and its place in supporting the integrity of the profession.

Scenario - Contact with Students

Mr. J is very popular with the students at the middle school
where he teaches. He often converses and jokes with them in
the halls between classes. It is common for Mr. J to greet
female students and staff with a hug and male students and
staff with a pat on the back. One student has complained to
the administration that Mr. J’s hugs or physical contact makes
him uncomfortable. Mr. J has been advised by the principal to
stop all physical contact with students and staff. He agrees to try, but he can’t promise anything
because that is the way he is and he isn’t doing anything wrong.

After discussing the scenario with your group, type your individual response to each of the
following questions:

1. What possible issues/concerns might this scenario raise?

The teacher should show professional behavior and not do something that can
make a student uncomfortable, especially if someone has complained about his behavior.
If there is one student that has complained, it usually means there is more than one
student that could be feeling uncomfortable or that doesn’t like it.

2. How could this situation become a violation of the law, the State “Code of Ethics”
and your local school/district’s policies (look at second page of section 3290– Sexual
Harassment/Intimidation of Students within the Madison School District Board
Policies)?
It goes against the Principle II of the Code of Ethics for Professional Educators. It
can be taken as harassment if you act in a way that someone doesn’t like and has already
asked for it to stop. It can also be inappropriate behavior to have physical contact with
students, because there can be a lot of misunderstandings. Being professional is also
about avoiding situations that can give a wrong impression or that can have a bad
outcome if a slight mistake is made.

3. In this situation, what are some potential negative consequences for the teacher, for
the students and the school community?
 The teacher can be sued for his behavior, more complains can be brought up by
more students or the same one, and even parents can get involved. The students can get
uncomfortable and trust and the relationship that must occur between teacher and student
will be broken or affected. This, especially, because the teacher is not willing to change
his behavior. The behavior of the teacher or his mentality can affect behavior of students
and its community. There can be more misunderstandings and even students that can
justify their own behavior in the same way. Students see that even if someone is
uncomfortable, as long as they are doing something they (themselves) want or don’t think
is wrong, then it is ok to continue doing so.
I think that this type of situation can become harder when students are older. I
think it is more common when the students are young to give and receive hugs, but they
are usually in a culture formed that way.

4. What responses/actions will result in a more positive outcome and/or what proactive
measures?
The teacher can stop having any type of physical contact. I have had experiences
where teachers give hugs, but only to students that come and give him hugs. I never
thought of it too much, but there can always be misunderstandings in any type of
behavior that becomes physical. There are always rumors that can even include students.
Some students can have inappropriate behavior themselves, and when a teacher leaves an
open door, boundaries are not very clear, and students can cause problems to the teacher
and the teacher will also be responsible for it. I think that professional behavior could
include limiting the same behavior to everyone, like handshakes, friendly verbal greeting,
but no hugs. Addressing why a student is feeling uncomfortable can also be helpful to see
what the teacher can improve on.

Click here to see the RUBRIC that will be used to score your response.