ethical dilemma

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