Question

An educator notices that one of his students is starting to slack off in class. The teacher decides to check the student’s social media account to see if there is any information publicly available that might indicate reasons for the change in this student. The educator notices that the student is spending quite a bit of time with friends after school and posting pictures of the activities. The teacher confronts the student and tells her she needs to spend less time with her friends and more time working on schoolwork. Which professional tenet has the educator violated?

Answer 1

The educator violated the student's right to privacy by checking their social media account without consent.

• The professional tenet that the educator violated in this situation is the student's right to privacy.
• By checking the student's social media account without consent, the educator invaded the student's privacy and overstepped their boundaries as a teacher.
• It is important for educators to respect the privacy of their students and to address any concerns or issues through appropriate channels, such as discussing the student's behavior directly with them or involving the parents or school administration if necessary.
• Violating a student's privacy can potentially have negative consequences, such as damaging the trust between the teacher and student, making the student feel uncomfortable or violated, or undermining the student's sense of autonomy and personal boundaries.
• It is essential for educators to create a supportive and safe learning environment where students feel respected and their privacy is protected.