INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT

1. INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT Physical and Verbal Abuse

2. GOALS The goals of this professional development session are: • To create awareness on issues surrounding verbal and physical abuse • To support novice teachers to enable them to make sound judgment calls in sticky situations • To achieve understanding of and commitment to ethical and professional behavior to avoid resignation or dismissal

3. At the end of this session, you will be able to • Locate resources on requirements for professional roles and ethics • Notice and avoid situations that may lead to verbal and physical misconduct towards students • Participate in professional learning communities for support • Relate their new learning to other issues pertaining to teacher dismissal

4. SAMPLE COMPLAINTS • “The most severe complaints against teachers in the school district included teachers who developed a pattern of being physically and verbally abusive with students.” • “Two teachers in the district had several complaints filed against them accusing them of grabbing students and yelling at students.” • “…the teacher was heard yelling at students and calling them names. He was also reported to have yelled at fellow district employees…”

5. SAMPLE COMPLAINTS • “He yelled in a "hostile and threatening" manner and was even accused of grabbing...” • “A parent filed a complaint against the teacher in February 2007 when her 3-year-old son came home with a sign around his neck saying "will walk for food.“”. • “Two parents sent letters to the school district in October 2010 accusing a band teacher of using inappropriate language and bullying students…the teacher did use "name-calling" and waved a drumstick at students.”

6. What binds us? AAE Code of Ethics for EducatorsPRINCIPLE I: Ethical Conduct toward Students(1) The professional educator deals considerately and justly with each student, and seeks to resolve problems, including discipline, according to law and school policy.(2) The professional educator does not intentionally expose the student to disparagement.(4) The professional educator makes a constructive effort to protect the student from conditions detrimental to learning, health, or safety.

7. Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics • Professional Ethical Conduct, Practices and Performance (I) Standard 1.9. The educator shall not make threats of violence against school district employees, school board members, students, or parents of students. (J) Standard 1.10. The educator shall be of good moral character and be worthy to instruct or supervise the youth of this state.

8. Texas Educator’s Code of Ethics (3) Ethical Conduct Toward Students (A) Standard 3.1. The educator shall not reveal confidential information concerning students unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.(B) Standard 3.2. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly treat a student or minor in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health, or safety of the student or minor.(E) Standard 3.5. The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in physical mistreatment, neglect, or abuse of a student or minor.(H) Standard 3.8. The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.

9. VERBAL Abuse Verbal abuse includes: • Language that tends to cause fear or physical or mental distress; • Language that includes words denoting racial, ethnic, religious, gender, disability, or sexual orientation which tends to cause fear or physical or mental distress; • Language that tends to threaten physical harm; and • Language that tends to belittle or subject students to ridicule. • http://www.uft.org/our-rights/corporal-punishment-verbal-abuse

10. Physical Violence • Physical violence occurs when someone uses a part of their body or an object to control your actions. Physical violence includes, but is not limited to, the following: • pushing; • shoving; • pinning or holding a person down; • confinement; • pinching; • hair-pulling; • slapping; • punching; • arm twisting; • kicking; • biting; • strangling; • choking; • burning; • overmedication; • assault with an object or weapon; • threats with an object or weapon; • stabbing; and • murder.

11. Verbal Abuse • Verbal abuse occurs when someone uses language, whether spoken or written, to cause you harm. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following: • constant criticism; • cursing; • name calling; • repeated insults; • recalling your past mistakes; • expressing negative expectations; • expressing distrust; • threats of violence against you, your children or other family members; and • for immigrants, threats of deportation if you decide to leave. • http://www.gov.nl.ca/VPI/types/

12. Statistics – Physical and Verbal Abuse by Teachers • Based on the PLAN survey, over a third, or 35.5% of the interviewed elementary and high school students reported having been spoken to in a sexually offensive or suggestive manner by fellow students and teachers. • 12.82% reported that they were touched inappropriately not only by their peers, but by teachers too who sexually harassed students. • PLAN found out that some students are victims of manipulation and exploitation done by either fellow students or teachers. They are forced to give objects or money, usually in the form of school contributions or payments for school projects. If unable to pay, they were punished physically, ordered to leave the class, or disallowed from taking exams.