The ethics of a teacher have always been important. We expect teachers to model the respect that they require students to give. Maintaining boundaries is just as equally important and can affect the way students perceive their teachers and subs.
There is nothing wrong with forming healthy student-teacher relationships; research actually proves positive relationships among teachers and their students boosts success, and South is filled with an abundant amount of these successful relationships.Yet, there are some staff who may unknowingly overstep lines, and it’s important to recognize the signs before it compromises the safety of students..
Teenagers inherently seek recognition and praise, but we as students may not have the skills yet to determine the clear line that determines proper conduct versus inappropriate teacher behavior. When students can’t make that distinction for themselves, staff should step in to show healthy lines. If not, unethical scenarios can result, and in some cases, behavior can come off as predatory.
For example, students are mandated to report to their assigned study halls, and if they don’t, they will be marked absent without a teacher pass. Students can make up tests and quizzes during study halls, and the passes are alloted by teachers to do so, as long as they check in with their study hall teacher. However, some students interviewed admitted they were given passes by teachers to just come into their room to relax or hang out. Sometimes they said it was to get out of a class they don’t like.
“It’s so weird because I’d be in the middle of class and suddenly a random student who wasn’t in the class would walk in and sit down,” said an anonymous senior. “During work time, they’d just sit by the teacher’s desk and chat like they were friends. I personally found it strange.”
This is not only directly going against school policy but can be a disruption to other students’ learning. The boundary is being blurred by teachers and students in this setting.
“Teachers can give students an appropriate time to meet with them instead of allowing students to pop in at any given moment,” school Dean Jessica Bernacki said. “We are working on tightening up our hallway practices, so writing passes for a student’s study hall and not during academic time is key. This also ensures that we know where each student is at all times to avoid any safety concerns.
The usage of pets names, such as bestie, pookie, honey, and more, while harmless on their own, can be creepy when it comes from the mouth of a teacher and or authority figure. The connotation of these words is usually humorous, but when used by staff in certain settings or when directed towards a specific student or group of students, the connotation can quickly change. The dynamic is attached to one thing: age and authority.
“I remember freshman year when I [participated in a sport], we kinda had a weird coach,” said an anonymous senior. “He was in our girls’ Instagram group chat. They would chat individually on Insta. I personally found it so weird. I never formed a relationship with him, but I knew it was kinda weird, and so did our other assistant coach who was a woman.”
Sharing of personal information can also lead to blurred lines. Students have reported overhearing conversations between teachers and students that involve the personal business of a student. What if the information shared by the student involves another student who does not give consent to share it? What if parents do not feel comfortable with their child sharing family events or circumstances? While the majority of students interviewed claim they don’t see the issue with this behavior, viewing teachers as buddies is cause for concern. Teachers are not meant to be student’s friends or therapists. They are meant to be there to educate students and be of help when needed.
Bernacki said she believes teachers can be wonderful support systems for students, and offers advice on how to maintain healthy boundaries.
“Teachers are expected to utilize a student’s triangle team when appropriate. For example, if a student is confiding in a teacher about concerns pertaining to his or her mental health, the team should be notified so that we can track the concern, offer targeted support, and schedule follow-up check-ins with that student.”
Healthy boundaries can help students and staff maintain professional relationships, which in turn, can teach students the soft skills needed in their own social emotional growth. A couple ways of going about setting boundaries is establishing them early on and enforcing them consistently. If students divulge too much personal information, the teacher can pause the conversation and suggest they reach out to their counselor or triangle team for additional support. When communicating outside of class, use emails or apps like Remind that help teachers and students communicate in a professional manner. These strategies can prevent students from growing too comfortable, but also assist them in setting healthy boundaries themselves.
