Create a reflective entry where you first identify an ethical dilemma that you either have faced or might face in the future, in your own practice that is linked to digital or online access or activity.
This is an interesting topic and in my experience of teaching have seen many scenarios arise,
especially before digital citizenship was introduced in school. For the purpose of this activity I will be
following Rolfe et al.s’ (2001) reflective model.
especially before digital citizenship was introduced in school. For the purpose of this activity I will be
following Rolfe et al.s’ (2001) reflective model.
Step 1 (What): An ethical dilemma that I have faced involved a student, her parents, and a teacher.
The teacher involved in the incident was an experienced teacher who taught for many years.
The student was upset by the teacher for telling her and two other students quite firmly to go outside
as all the other children were playing outside. The student was upset by the way the teacher spoke
to her. The student later told her mother that the teacher was being mean to her and that she was a
mean teacher. The parent later posted on social media complaining of this parent. The parent has
followers who are members of the school community and who know the teacher who works at the
school.
The teacher involved in the incident was an experienced teacher who taught for many years.
The student was upset by the teacher for telling her and two other students quite firmly to go outside
as all the other children were playing outside. The student was upset by the way the teacher spoke
to her. The student later told her mother that the teacher was being mean to her and that she was a
mean teacher. The parent later posted on social media complaining of this parent. The parent has
followers who are members of the school community and who know the teacher who works at the
school.
Step 2 (So What): The following decision making process is based on the model of Ehrich (2011).
The incident is that the parent has posted inaccurate information about a teacher to social media.
The teacher or the school has no knowledge of the parents concern and are later told by other
parents who are followers of the concerned parent who posted the information. As this post has
gone public, I think the best thing to do in this situation is report it to the school principal and have
the matter dealt with immediately. The teacher would then need to write/explain a detailed
description of what happened on the day that the teacher was supposedly being mean to the
student- and write exactly what was communicated between the teacher and the student. In this
situation it would be good for the teacher to avoid being alone with the student at all costs but
maintain a professional relationship with the student and whānau. Our current school policy states
that if parents have concerns regarding their children to contact the school immediately and
arrange for the matter to be dealt with face to face.
The incident is that the parent has posted inaccurate information about a teacher to social media.
The teacher or the school has no knowledge of the parents concern and are later told by other
parents who are followers of the concerned parent who posted the information. As this post has
gone public, I think the best thing to do in this situation is report it to the school principal and have
the matter dealt with immediately. The teacher would then need to write/explain a detailed
description of what happened on the day that the teacher was supposedly being mean to the
student- and write exactly what was communicated between the teacher and the student. In this
situation it would be good for the teacher to avoid being alone with the student at all costs but
maintain a professional relationship with the student and whānau. Our current school policy states
that if parents have concerns regarding their children to contact the school immediately and
arrange for the matter to be dealt with face to face.
Step 3 (Now What): As stated in our code our standard (2017), teachers are to engage in
respectful relationships with whānau. This means that the teacher would need to maintain
professional boundaries by not engaging in the social media post. As a teacher, the incident would
need to be reported as soon as you are aware of it. Report what you know of the incident-
for example a detailed explanation of what had occurred and what was communicated to the
student. From there the principal will be able to meet with the whānau to discuss both sides of
the story, and remind the parents that they also have a responsibility to address all issues with the
school principal or management staff. Communication activities in class would be good to teach
students how to communicate effectively, and the impact of communicating the wrong information
could have on other people.
respectful relationships with whānau. This means that the teacher would need to maintain
professional boundaries by not engaging in the social media post. As a teacher, the incident would
need to be reported as soon as you are aware of it. Report what you know of the incident-
for example a detailed explanation of what had occurred and what was communicated to the
student. From there the principal will be able to meet with the whānau to discuss both sides of
the story, and remind the parents that they also have a responsibility to address all issues with the
school principal or management staff. Communication activities in class would be good to teach
students how to communicate effectively, and the impact of communicating the wrong information
could have on other people.
References:
Ehrich, L. C. , Kimber M., Millwater, J. & Cranston, N. (2011). Ethical dilemmas: a model to
understand teacher practice, Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 17:2, 173-185, DOI:
10.1080/13540602.2011.539794
Education Council. (2017). Our Code Our Standards. Retrieved from: https://educationcouncil.org.nz/sites/default/file…
understand teacher practice, Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 17:2, 173-185, DOI:
10.1080/13540602.2011.539794
Kia ora Kataraina, that's a pretty interesting situation, and definitely a hard one to deal with! That is one of the trickier parts of the internet and social media being so open and public. Something that was a private situation and could have been dealt with in a private way suddenly becomes public. Also, we as teachers kind of become public figures, which in the situation you discussed means comments being made publicly without the school or the teacher having any knowledge and having to find out second-hand! I think your plan of how to deal with it is a good approach; try to get the parent in and deal with the situation face-to-face as soon as possible. Do you think that asking to have the post removed is something the principal could do? Or would this just raise other issues? Maintaining a positive and professional relationship with the student and their whānau would definitely be important, though it's not always easy in situations like this!
ReplyDeleteKia ora Chris, thank you for your feedback. I think asking a parent to remove a post is totally acceptable. I would also recommend that the parent meet with the teacher and senior management to discuss appropriate ways of voicing a concern. We have had a few meetings regarding parents and teachers posting on social media. Parents and teachers are aware that if there are any concerns to go straight to the principal or a teacher. I think teachers have a key role in communicating with parents as well. I have found that when you have a good relationship with the parents they feel comfortable to get in contact with you. Also, I think a good idea when teaching students digital citizenship is to get whānau on board and be good role models.
DeleteKia Ora Kataraina, I similarly incident happened to one of my kaiako. Instead it was about something the kaiako said in front of the parent. But to make matters worst other colleagues had seen the post and said nothing. I acted the same way as you and reported the incident straight away to the principal and I approached the parent as well. The parent didn't seem to fully understand the destress her actions caused the kaiako. I agree that the kaiako should not engage with any negative comments online. But whānau need to be aware that if they post such comments about kaiako or any-one else it is also defamation
ReplyDeleteof character.
Kia ora Tania thanks for your feedback. Just in response to your comment about 'other colleagues had seen the post and said nothing', is quite shocking. I think teachers need to have a good understanding of the complaints process as well as parents, so that when these issues arise they would know to report it. Not engaging in negative comments online is quite different to not reporting comments or concerns that have a negative impact on a colleague. I would definitely want my colleagues to support me or any other kaiako by reporting negative comments.
Delete