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. Yet, year after year, the national and local media aggressively pursue any story concerning allegations that a teacher has engaged in some type of inappropriate relationship with a student.

In some cases, the allegations are true. But, in many cases they are not. Unfortunately, by the time the truth is known it is far too late to save the reputation of the falsely accused.

Young teachers, particularly secondary teachers, are extremely vulnerable to false allegations for several reasons. First, they simply lack significant experience in maintaining appropriate relationships with students. In addition, secondary teachers in many instances deal with students who are virtually the same age. These older students may want to become “friends” with their new teachers both inside and outside the classroom. Obviously, such “friendships” are fraught with danger.

It is imperative that young teachers take the necessary steps to protect their good names, their reputations and ultimately their careers. Young teachers should implement the following strategies to avoid liability.

1. 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.

2. Avoid “double entendres.” You must be extremely careful when choosing your words. Any comment which students may consider a cute or suggestive remark can and often will lead to trouble. Students may report your remarks to their parents or your administrators in ways that distort the context in which they were intended.

3. 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.

4. Don’t be alone with students. Avoid being alone with a student in an enclosed space where you cannot be observed by another adult. When you’re alone, you are inherently vulnerable because you will not have a corroborating witness in the event a student makes an allegation against you. After-school detention, keeping a student in from recess, make-up tests, and tutoring are all examples of potentially risky situations. You need to arrange the activity where you are at least in the sight line of another adult and you should ask that person to be observant of your work with the student.

5. Don’t become “friends” with your students. 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. This “comfort” can lead to a multitude of problems including romantic overtures towards you by the student. Rejection of such overtures may cause the student to make false allegations against you with the administration.

6. Don’t socialize with students. You must be careful not to socialize with students. If you are seen in public with a student, people will often assume the worst. Also, if the student gets into any type of trouble, you will be presumed to be involved either directly or indirectly.

7. Don’t ever think that it can’t happen to you. It can.