LEGAL MATTERS

Tips: How To Avoid False Allegations
Never be alone with a student (not in a classroom or a car). Never give a student a ride home. If you can’t avoid being alone with a student at school, keep the door open and stay in plain sight. Watch out for after-school detention, keeping a student in from recess, make-up tests and tutoring.

Don’t socialize with students. Always maintain a professional demeanor and distance. That means no flirting, teasing or joking about sex. Don’t give gifts, unless you give one to every student, and don’t single out any one student for special attention or flattery. Never send e-mails, text messages or cards to students unrelated to school work, and don’t ask students about their social lives or comment on their personal appearance.

Maintain your “personal space.” You cannot permit students to invade your “personal space.” 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.

Physical contact is often a tricky area. Younger children often seek out and need physical comfort from their teachers. In the early elementary grades, an occasional hug is probably OK. But as a general rule, it’s best to avoid most forms of physical contact, especially kissing, hair stroking, tickling and frontal hugging. And use common sense: a “high five” to acknowledge a job well done is fine; a slap on the bottom is not.

Nip crushes in the bud; never allow a student to obsess over you. While crushes can be flattering, they also can be fatal. An unfulfilled fantasy can result in a student acting out to gain attention or retaliating for being ignored.

If a student expresses a love interest, respond with an unambiguous “no.” Don’t equivocate and certainly don’t encourage the student by acting pleased by the attention. It’s also advisable to share this information with another adult and your union representative. In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to tell your supervisor and ask that the student be transferred.

Don’t discuss sexually explicit topics. You cannot afford to be drawn into conversations regarding sexually explicit topics, song lyrics, jokes or movies. You should always discourage and try to stop such conversations in your presence.

There’s no guarantee that you won’t be the victim of unfounded charges. If the unthinkable happens, remember this: Never give an oral or written statement to school officials without first consulting with your union representative. Even innocent statements can be misconstrued.

Sources: Daniel, Y. and Egbo, B. “The Art of Teaching: Foundations, Policies, and Practices”. Pearson: 2006.

“Falsely Accused”
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3617/is_200610/ai_n16756238

“Staying Out of Trouble: Part 2 – Student-Teacher Relationships”
http://heyteach.org/ht_trouble_pt2.cfm