Understanding Professional Boundaries

Introduction

Failure to understand professional boundaries can lead almost any member to make serious mistakes - career threatening ones - in the management of teacher-student relationships.

Any act of professional misconduct can lead to disciplinary measures being taken by the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). Even an unfounded allegation of professional misconduct could be permanently damaging to a teacher, to their family, and to the profession.

Professional Boundaries Defined

The term "Professional Boundaries" is not easily defined. When teachers were asked how they understood the term, ETFO learned that it can mean different things to different people. Some common responses were

• violation of the position of trust;
• abuse of power in a teacher's relationship with a child; and
• teachers using their relationship to meet their own needs instead of the needs of their students.

The most extreme form of boundary violation is that of sexual abuse against a student. Sexual abuse represents the ultimate breach of the trust reposed in a teacher.

The Onus is On the Teacher

Teachers are responsible for recognizing in themselves whether they are "at risk" of crossing boundaries and, if they are, of addressing the issue. This makes the issue an important and dangerous one for teachers.

Teachers have a responsibility to address this issue when they witness a colleague who may be crossing boundaries. Administrators and colleagues need to recognize danger signals in other teachers' interactions, and to intervene. In serious situations, reporting suspicion of child abuse may be required.

What Places Teachers at the Highest Risk?

Insufficient training: Teachers insufficiently trained in their roles can become too personally involved with students. This can lead to actual or alleged sexual misconduct.

Ignorance of the law: There is no excuse for being ignorant of the law! Teachers need to be informed about legal liability issues and the standards of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT).

Unacceptable Behaviours

In general, activities which take a teacher beyond the expectations of the employer could easily qualify as boundary violations. These include:

• becoming too personally involved with students - friend, confident, surrogate parent;
• seeing students in private or non-school settings;
• writing or exchanging notes, letters or emails;
• serving as a confidant with regard to a student's decision about his/her personal issues;
• giving gifts or money to students;
• inviting students to one's home or cottage;
• having students stay overnight in one's home/cottage;
• driving individual students to or from school;
• giving one student undue attention;
• being alone with a student with the exception of an emergency situation;
• sharing your personal problems with students;
• sharing personal information about a student with a third party; and
• initiating physical contact.

Protective Strategies

The best way for members to protect themselves is to follow that old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Teachers must be ever vigilant of situations that place them in vulnerable positions.

As a teacher, do you protect yourself by:

• learning about the law and your liability as a teacher?
• teaching with your classroom door open?
• having another adult present when attending to the personal needs of special needs students?
• complimenting or commending students without "hugging or touching" them?
• reporting any reasonable suspicion of child abuse to proper authorities?
• clarifying procedures with your principal regarding potentially threatening situations?
• getting parents' and principals' approval regarding all activities off school property?
• letting students know when they are overstepping your personal boundaries?
• seeking input from colleagues or other professionals if unsure of the appropriateness of your actions or plans?

Remember … a caring professional relationship always helps a student to learn. But this relationship has boundaries of time, place, purpose and activity.

Members are advised to consult their Local President or Professional Relations staff in Protective Services at 416-962-3836 or 1-888-838-3836 for additional advice.