VTPCC Principle 2.1 states that ‘the personal conduct of a teacher will have an impact on the professional standing of that teacher and on the profession as a whole’, also of relevance is part A.
Through agreeing to attend the party with the year 9 boys Miss Hawkins has put at risk, not only her own reputation, but also the reputation of the school and her colleagues. The actions of one teacher, no matter how independent they might be, reflects on the entire staff and the school as a whole. The actions of singular teachers also influence the way that the community views the entire profession as certain behaviours are often generalised.
It is also important that teachers interact professionally with students as their conduct in their personal time could dramatically impact the student’s view of them. Teachers need to be able to maintain a rapport where the student understands that, whilst they can have a positive and friendly relationship with a teacher, the relationship must remain professional. If students begin to see their teachers as friends that they party with on the weekend it is unlikely that come Monday they will take the teacher seriously.
Part A of 2.1 states that it is expected that teachers will ‘be positive role models at school and in the community’.
Miss Hawkins has already proven herself an unfit role model through the images that she has chosen to post on social media of parties and clubs.
She has then made that content available to her students and the general public, and agreed to attend an out of school event with two students which has been advertised as a ‘rave’. Add to this that the two students are only in year 9 and in all probability should not be attending this event at all. Miss Hawkins is not behaving as an appropriate role model if she is agreeing to attend a party, where there will most likely be drinking, with to underage students that are in a vulnerable position due to their age and susceptibility to inappropriate exposure.
No comments:
Post a Comment