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Assignment 11: Ethical Dilemmas – What Would You Do?

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to explore and evaluate ethical issues as they relate to early childhood education.

Directions: Read the following scenarios and respond to the reflective questions pertaining to ethics. Your response should reference the code of ethics statements.

Scenario 1

Ms. K is a veteran teacher who is very popular with her students. She frequently offers students extra help after school, so it’s not uncommon to see students visiting her classroom after school. She has tutored one of her students, “Melissa,” in a variety of subjects over a two year period. During that time, Ms. K has emailed and texted “Melissa’s” cell phone using her personal email address. At first, the exchanges were very general; sometimes unrelated to school work (e.g., asking Melissa about a sick family member, or how she was getting along with friends). Recently, the student began to text her teacher about more personal feelings.

1. What possible issues/concerns might this scenario raise?
2. How could this situation become a violation of the law, the “Code” or other school /district policies?
3. In this situation, what are some potential negative consequences for the teacher, for the students and the school community?
4. What responses/actions will result in a more positive outcome and/or what proactive measures might be considered?

Scenario 2

Ms. P is a pre-k teacher. During open house she provides parents with her cell phone number to be used only in emergencies. Ms. P has students with special needs so this is often helpful since she doesn’t have a phone in her classroom. One evening, she receives a message from a parent asking if their child had left their sweater at school. Ms. P politely responds that she’d check when she returned to school. The following evening, the same parent sends a message thanking Ms. P for retrieving the child’s sweater and asks if they could meet outside of school for coffee. Ms. P agrees to meet the parent.

1. What possible issues/concerns might this scenario raise?
2. How could this situation become a violation of the law, the “Code” or other school /district policies?
3. In this situation, what are some potential negative consequences for the teacher, for the students and the school community?
4. What responses/actions will result in a more positive outcome and/or what proactive measures might be considered?