Parents want rule against teacher-student texting
Parents are asking why there are no specific policies preventing teachers from texting students after a male teacher was disciplined, but not suspended, for inappropriate messaging with a female student.
“This needs to be a huge eyeopener to the school system to structure specific policies around texting and cellphone use between teachers and their students,” said Althea Adams, spokeswoman for the Calgary Association of Parent and School Councils. “This is very concerning, and I’m shocked, quite frankly, that a teacher can even text with a student at all.
“Cellphones are very personal devices. And people are much more bold when they send messages than when they communicate face to face. We need to create some clear policies that protect students.”
Lisa Davis, founder of the Kids Come First student advocacy group, agreed, adding “on the surface it may not seem unreasonable for teachers to want to be accessible to students and provide their cellphone numbers.
“But the question is, what is the policy, and why aren’t personal devices more closely monitored in schools?”
A Jan. 16 report from the professional conduct committee of the Alberta Teachers’ Association shows a Calgary teacher was fined $1,000 and received a letter of severe reprimand after engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a Grade 12 student, including sending texts referencing hugs, nakedness and “R-rated” texting icons.
While the teacher has since resigned, he was not suspended, meaning he could work again as a teacher. But the Calgary Board of Education said it would be highly unlikely that a teacher with a record of professional misconduct would be hired to teach again.
The ATA has a Code of Professional Conduct that teachers must adhere to 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It states that teachers “must respect the dignity and rights of all persons,” including treating pupils with dignity and respect while being considerate of their circumstances.
As well, the CBE has an Employee Code of Conduct which states all staff are “expected to exercise common sense, good judgment and discretion,” and a specific policy outlining “responsible use of electronic information resources.”
Students, parents, volunteers and staff are prohibited from using any material that is vulgar, lewd, or sexual in nature that is not approved in an educational context.
Barb Silva of Support Our Students, said policies like that are enough because they govern teachers but still allow them to develop relationships with students that are professional yet meaningful.
“Teachers are professionals so we need to allow them the ability to make the right judgments.”
The CBE recently introduced new guidelines encouraging students to “bring your own device” to school, welcoming laptops, iPads and smartphones to promote science and technology learning.
The Calgary Catholic School District also has no specific policy preventing teachers from texting students. Instead, rules around employee conduct state communication with students “must reflect the employee’s position of trust and authority as well as the employee’s role as a teacher.”
The policy also states “communication and association with students outside of school hours or school activities are to be minimized and must, at all times, reflect the employee’s position of trust and authority.”
Karen Ry h or chuk, CC SD spokeswoman, says the policies are written to target“behaviours ,” not different types of technology.
She said to outlaw only texting doesn’t address the issue, because there are so many other types of electronic communication where lines can also be blurred.