I have a quite a few encounters with unprofessional behavior in the education world. One of the most interesting experiences revolved around the most recent political season when one of the teachers here on campus was telling students that a certain candidate was a racist. In the middle of this, one of the Teacher Aides actually stated that they liked that particular candidate and that the political discussion should be a little more balanced when discussing candidates. The teacher then called the TA a racist.
When I heard this story, I was flabbergasted! I could not believe that a teacher would cross that ethical boundary of influencing the students in that way, and then compound the first mistake by making another one and alienating the TA and calling them names. This experience highlights two of the biggest pitfalls that lead to unethical behavior. First, a teacher must learn to control their emotions. When our emotions get the best of us, we make big mistakes. Second, teachers must know the ethical expectations and have very clear boundaries with students and staff alike.
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