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Teachers are obliged to protect students from psychological harm under state and national codes of ethics. The primary concern of an educator, according to the Code of Ethics of Education Profession in Florida (n. d.), is for students’ well-being and development. The National Education Association Code of Ethics for Educators (2020) lays out the same idea in its first principle. Under it, teachers must protect their students from any conditions harmful to their physical and psychological state, including cyberbullying, by any reasonable means (NEA, 2020). The teacher’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the learning process is equally comfortable and safe for all their students and that the social environment in the class allows for it. The Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida obliges educators to maintain and foster confidence and respect among their students (State Board of Education, n. d.). Furthermore, threats of violence can grow into actual violence, threatening the safety and health of students. Consequently, addressing issues that include deliberate disrespect and that are aimed at harming a student’s mental state, including emails with obscene materials, is the educator’s responsibility under national and state codes of ethics.
Cyberbullying usually refers to using electronic devices and the Internet for malicious purposes, primarily for psychological pressure (Van der Zande, 2019). The most prevalent types of cyberbullying include sharing someone’s private information publicly, directly sending or posting threatening messages online, utilizing malicious software to gain access to personal data, extortion, and fraud (What is cyberbullying, 2021). Being subject to such treatment can significantly harm students’ mental health and hinder their learning abilities. The growing presence of various digital devices and the popularity of social media and other online platforms have played a significant role in the persistence of cyberbullying (What is cyberbullying, 2021). According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, about 16% of high school students experience cyberbullying with varying regularity (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). It is often difficult for a teacher to notice when cyberbullying is occurring, primarily because it includes elements of embarrassment that discourage students from sharing this information. Therefore, it is crucial for educators to pay close attention to their students’ psychological condition to notice any signs of cyberbullying and take measures to address this issue if it actually occurs.
Cyberbullying is primarily a social and psychological issue and should be addressed carefully but emphatically. Several techniques exist for educators to address cyberbullying if they observe such occurrences to comply with national and state codes of ethics regarding their moral responsibility to students (NEA, 2020; State Board of Education, n. d.). First of all, it is vital to provide support for the victim of cyberbullying instead of lecturing (Van der Zande, 2019). The child may be in a state of shock and upset because of the psychological pressure associated with experiencing cyberbullying and reporting it to the teacher. It is necessary to ensure that the child is ready to discuss the issue and feels emotionally safe.
The highest degree of ethical conduct can be achieved by following the principles described in the national and state codes. Florida and NEA codes of ethics encourage teachers to protect students from any physical or mental harm (NEA, 2020; State Board of Education, n. d.). Additionally, the codes emphasize the importance of maintaining professional relationships with students, colleagues, and parents, particularly in terms of honesty and openness (NEA, 2020; State Board of Education, n. d.). These basic principles provide a framework for maintaining the educators’ moral and professional integrity.
The responsible child should be approached carefully to discuss the issue without openly blaming or humiliating them. The reasons for such behavior should be discussed to find possible deeper causes. A careful investigation might reveal psychological issues leading to such an aggressive attitude and requiring a separate solution. The consequences of cyberbullying should be explained in detail to ensure the responsible child understands the possible repercussions (Van der Zande, 2019). A discreet conversation with the parents of both children may also be necessary to ensure that the children have additional support from their parents in dealing with emotions leading to and following the cyberbullying act. The situation should be reported to the school administration after the details of the incident are established, with possible disciplinary actions taken towards the responsible child. A school therapist could also be engaged in the process to help the children cope with the emotional pressure associated with cyberbullying.
It is crucial for an educator in this situation to remain professional and follow the principles of ethical conduct according to the relevant codes of ethics. Maintaining integrity and respect among the students is a major part of preventing and solving similar incidents (NEA, 2020; State Board of Education, n. d.). In line with the principles of care, some states oblige educators to report behavior that threatens the students’ well-being. In Florida, teachers are legally responsible for reporting any signs of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment, even suspected, to the Department of Children and Families (The 2022 Florida Statutes, 2022a). A teacher’s license can be revoked in case of gross violation of the state and national professional codes of ethics (Florida Department of Education, n. d). Setting an example of ethical behavior is a powerful tool for a teacher to use for addressing conflicts among students and to prevent any legal charges against themselves.
Case Study 2: Use of Technology
The national and state codes of ethics for educators include recommendations for maintaining professional integrity for teachers, particularly regarding the use of school property for professional and personal needs. Notably, the Code of Ethics of Education Profession in Florida specifies that a teacher “shall not use institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage” (State Board of Education, n. d., para. 7). Using a school-provided laptop for personal needs outside the professional interest and needs would be a violation of this specific rule. In this case, the educator’s primary concern is maintaining a high level of professionalism regarding their facility’s technology use policy. Maintaining good relationships with their colleagues and administration is also a focus in the correct use of district-provided devices. For this reason, the main focus while using the school laptop should be on carefully studying the district rules on the use of technology at work. These guidelines should be followed in combination with the state and national codes of ethics for educators.
There are also separate district policies and rules that address using computers and other electronics that are property of the school by teachers. For example, Palm Beach County, Florida Policy 3.29 regulates the procedures for the acceptable use of technology by employees of educational facilities. The policy requires all educators planning to use the district technologies, including laptops and computers, including Internet access, to take a mandatory digital qualification course (The School Board of Palm Beach, 2016). It is a helpful measure to ensure that all educators are aware of the functionality of the technologies they are planning to use for work-related purposes. It should be adopted in other educational facilities in one form or another to ensure proper professional conduct by the employees. The policy also mentions the employees’ responsibility to use the district-provided technology outside their paid hours strictly for professional development or other related causes with responsibility and respect to the district’s resources (The School Board of Palm Beach, 2016). Following these basic principles will ensure the highest degree of ethical and professional conduct by the educator.
The Greenview Local School District also provides regulations on the use of technologies by teachers at work and at home outside business hours for educational and professional purposes. The policy emphasizes the importance of using provided technologies strictly for work-related purposes and encourages employees to exclude any personal information or online interactions from these resources (Greenview Local School District, 2016). Respecting the property and sensitive information of colleagues, peers, and educational facilities is among the responsibilities of educators under national and state codes of ethics and is also covered by this policy (NEA, 2020; State Board of Education, n. d.; Greenview Local School District, 2016). The Broward County policy 5306 that regulates technology usage at schools suggests regarding the district’s network as a shared resource that should be approached with responsibility and in a safe, ethical, and legal manner (The School Board of Broward County, n. d.). These recommendations provide a comprehensive guide for educators to maintain high professionalism and ethical standards when dealing with their institution and administration regarding the use of technology.
Professional misconduct is among the things that should be reported and self-reported to the administration by an educator. The Code of Ethics of Education Profession in Florida (n. d.) and the National Education Association Code of Ethics for Educators (2020) specify the teachers’ responsibility to inform responsible persons in case of observed misconduct. Such misconducts also include the unlawful or inadequate use of district-provided technologies for purposes other than education and professional business (Florida Department of Education, n. d.). The legal procedures and possible repercussions following such misconduct are laid out in the 2022 Florida Statutes (2022b). The unregulated use of school-provided technologies can jeopardize the integrity of the electronic data stored in the facility’s database, including the private information of students and teachers. Such event would constitute a breach of security and is a violation of NEA (2020) and Florida State Board of Education (n. d.) codes of educational ethics. Therefore, this kind of behavior should always be reported to the administration.
If a teacher fails to follow these recommendations and rules, their educator license can be suspended. The 2022 Florida Statutes (2022b) allow the recalling of an educator’s license for up to five years in cases of breaching the contract with the employer or committing a criminal act. If the employment agreement includes regulations regarding technology use by the employees which were violated by the employee, they will be subject to relevant charges. The same applies to the use of district-provided technologies for any kind of unlawful activity, including breaches of privacy resulting in the loss of the employer’s or students’ sensitive data. Gross violation of ethical codes which cover the correct use of district-provided technologies can also be a reason for the educator’s license suspension (The 2022 Florida Statutes, 2022b). Therefore, it is crucial to approach any district-provided devices and technologies with care and attention to the specific policies adopted in the district and at the facility.
Case Study 3: Student’s Academic Success and Privacy Concerns
The national, state and professional codes of ethics for educators encompass a set of guidelines for educational professionals to follow at work in relation to students, colleagues, parents, and other members of the school community. The Code of Ethics for Education Profession in Florida establishes that the teacher’s primary professional concern is particularly for the student’s development (State Board of Education, n. d.). Therefore, the educator must at all times strive to exercise the best professional judgment and moral integrity in matters relating to the student’s academic success. The Code also emphasizes the crucial nature of preserving the student’s legal rights and data privacy while at the same time maintaining healthy and respectful professional relationships with colleagues (State Board of Education, n. d.). The NEA (2020) Code supports the importance of preserving students’ privacy, stating that educators must not disclose any information about their students obtained through professional engagement. Therefore, the future plan of action should be based on the students’ best interests and maintaining professional relationships with other educators.
However, in some conditions, these guidelines can be interpreted in other ways. Particularly, disclosure of some of the students’ data is acceptable for a “compelling professional purpose,” which may include sharing the relevant study records with colleagues in pursuit of supporting the students’ academic potential (NEA, 2020, para. 6). It is essential to sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct in these sensitive conditions and to maintain professional integrity in this situation by maintaining balance between the students’ rights and the community’s educational interests. The optimal way to approach the case would be to focus on preserving the students’ anonymity by, for example, assigning aliases while sharing their study records with other teachers. It will help to mitigate the potential risk of preferential treatment or biases while at the same time preserving the students’ privacy in acceptable boundaries. Only the information relevant and crucial to the developed instructional strategies should be disclosed. Since in this case the main goal of sharing students’ sensitive data is following their best interests and the educational interests of other students, it would not violate the national and state codes of ethics.
The plan of action, however, should be followed carefully to prevent any cases of professional and ethical misconduct. Violating students’ privacy and legal rights goes against the NEA (2020) and State Board of Education (n. d.) codes of ethics and can result in disciplinary measures against the educator. Florida Department of Education (n. d.) specifies the violation of these codes as educator misconduct that can be punished by law. This kind of misconduct must be reported if observed and self-reported if committed under the 2022 Florida Statutes (2022b). The educator is obliged to maintain the highest degree of professional integrity in all issues concerning the well-being of their students, and reporting of any alleged misconduct is a crucial element of that process. In case if this requirement is ignored and the professional and ethical integrity of a teacher is compromised, administrative measures can be applied by the state.
One of the measures, in this case, is suspending or revoking the educator’s license. The 2022 Florida Statutes (2022b) specify violation of the Florida Code of Ethics for Educators as a potential reason for such action. The main focus should be put on preserving the students’ privacy and well-being while simultaneously acting in the best interests of the educational community with respect to the national and state codes of educational ethics. By complying with the principles laid out in state and national codes of ethics, an educator is expected to pursue constant adherence to moral and teaching standards to retain professional integrity. The reasons for license suspension include gross incompetence or immorality or other criminal charges (The 2022 Florida Statutes, 2022b). Breach of privacy can also result in the professional’s suspension if no reasonable excuse is presented. Therefore, educators must always follow these guidelines regarding the students’ privacy and social rights to avoid allegations of professional and ethical misconduct.
Avoiding this type of professional and ethical conflict requires a careful consideration of the specific conditions of the situation. The state and national codes of ethics must be studied deeply and comprehensively to ensure that no misconduct is performed unknowingly. The relevant legal acts and district regulations, particularly for Florida public and private educational facilities, should also be addressed. Additional resources including the 2022 Florida Statutes regarding education can be accessed for better familiarizing with the relevant legal guidelines (2022a; 2022b). Florida Department of Education provides helpful information regarding professional and ethical misconduct, its meaning, applications, and consequences (n. d.). The NASDTEC Model Code of Ethics for Educators is another tool encompassing the relevant recommendations and rules for pursuing and maintaining the highest degree of professional conduct by education professionals (2021). It includes and elaborates on the best practices laid out in the NEA (2020) code and the similar state codes of ethics for educators. Relying on these resources in addition to the state and national codes would be helpful for professional educators to prevent professional or ethical collisions.
References
Florida Department of Education. (n. d.). What is educator misconduct? Web.
Greenview Local School District. (2016). 7540.01 – Technology privacy. Web.
National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification [NASDTEC]. (2021). Model code of ethics for educators. Web.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Bullying at school and electronic bullying. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Web.
National Education Association [NEA]. (2020). Code of Ethics for Educators. Web.
State Board of Education. (n. d.). The code of ethics of the education profession in Florida. Web.
The 2022 Florida Statutes (including Special Session A), V Proceedings relating to children § 39 (2022a). Web.
The 2022 Florida Statutes (including Special Session A), XLVIII Early learning-20 education code § 1012 (2022b). Web.
The School Board of Palm Beach. (2016). 3.29 Acceptable use of technology by employees. Web.
Van der Zande, I. (2019). 10 actions to prevent and stop cyberbullying. Kidpower. Web.
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