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Quotes:

Staying out of trouble, part 2: Teacher-student relationships

  • No one anticipates becoming the target of a major news story when deciding to become a teacher.
    • allegations that a teacher has engaged in some type of inappropriate relationship with a student.
      • t is far too late to save the reputation of the falsely accused.
        • Fear Fear comment by Vicki Davis
        • Young teachers should implement the following strategies to avoid liability.
          • This simply means that you cannot allow students to touch you, stroke your hair or hang on you to gain your attention. This sets the tone that you will respect the students’ “personal space” as well.
            • Avoid “double entendres.”
              • 3. Don’t discuss sexually explicit topics.
                • Avoid being alone with a student in an enclosed space where you cannot be observed by another adult.
                  • you will not have a corroborating witness in the event a student makes an allegation against you.
                    • This is where having multiple teachers and groups of teachers would serve as online protection for teachers. comment by Vicki Davis
                    • You should always maintain the “line” which lets students know that you are their teacher. If this line becomes blurred, students may become too comfortable with you.
                      • You must be careful not to socialize with students.
                        • There is a difference between "socialize" and "associate" -- this is where there is trouble and what teachers have a problem with. They will see students, go to funerals, see them in town and talk to them outside of school and often want to talk to them on the Internet. They see this as "associate" while unknowing observers see it as "socializing" -- again the "social network" terminology has harmed itself. comment by Vicki Davis