Ethical Dilemma
The District Superintendent is Sexually Harassing a Female Teacher on school grounds.
Texas Code of Ethics/Teacher Standards
Sexual Harassment training for teachers/staff and administrators.
Code FFH: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation; TASB policy
Ethically Relevant IssueSexual Harassment between an administrator and a teacher.
Persons that need to be considered
Teachers Administrators
Additional Information Be fully informed Know your rights as an employed
person, teacher code of ethics.
Actions or Alternatives Report to principal Go to the police for further investigation Do nothing Change districts
Short Term Consequences May not be able to do anything about it No evidence
On-Going Consequences Harassment continues Harassment might get worse Other employees might also be
harassed
Long-Term Consequences Loss of job of both parties
Psychological Costs
Emotional Distress
Social Costs Gossiping Isolation
Economic Costs None Lawyer/Court fees
Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986)
Vinson brought suit against the bank, arguing that, during the four years she had been employed at the bank, she had been subjected to repeated sexual harassment by Taylor.
Her case was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that a claim of hostile environment sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is actionable under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Harris v. Forklift Systems (1993)
Throughout Harris’s employment at Forklift, Hardy, the Forklift’s President, repeatedly insulted Harris because of her gender and subjected her to sexual innuendos.
The court did not find that his actions were so severe that they could be expected to affect Harris’s psychological well-being or her work performance.
Decision TreeTeacher was
sexually Harassed
Go to the Police
look into it
he can be found guilty
or they can find nothing
Report to principal
have a private talk with
teacher or give advice
inform teacher when he is
going to be on campus
talk to superinendent
Do nothing
it can continue get worse
Change Districts
feel safer
Contact the principal In the Texas code of ethics it states that
teachers are not to harass another teacher, student, parent, volunteer, anyone involved with the school. - A teacher harassed should contact the school principal, if that does not work contact the superintendent. If the superintendent is the harasser then contact the school board directly.
Commitment statement
The teacher should keep their promise of confidentiality, and reporting if it happens again.
Negative ConsequencesRumors loss of job loss of credibility
Proof will be needed in court to fix the
negative consequences.
Rumors The teacher should ignore the rumors
- she knows what happened, trying to make them stop could cause more problems.- If they get out of control talk to the principal and have him solve the problem.
Loss of Job The teacher may lose her job and if this
happens she can sue the school. - There is no probable cause to fire the teacher over being a sexual harassment victim.
The next time the school administrator comes to the school ask the principal to watch and be a witness.
Loss of Credibility The loss of credibility because she can not
prove it happened and no one believes her.- The only thing that could fix this would be proof of the administer harassing her. - Have the principal watch, if nothing else works wear a recorder and record the incident
Top Related