Here’s Some Advice: Don’t Have Inappropriate Relationships with Your Students

A teacher at a Dumas ISD middle school recently resigned after accusations of an inappropriate relationship with a student.

According to a statement provided to our media partners MyHighPlains.com by Dumas school district, information regarding an improper relationship was received on or about Jan. 2. They began an investigation and law enforcement was informed of the allegations.

Reports On Conduct Have Been Made

A report was made to the Texas Education Agency/State Board for Educator Certification about teacher conduct.

At the time of this writing, identity of the educator has not been released and no formal charges have been filed.

The Dumas ISD Employee Handbook has a whole section on ethical conduct toward students, these are just a few of the rules against relationships with students.

Standard 3.6 The educator shall not solicit or engage in sexual conduct or a romantic relationship with a student or minor

 

Standard 3.8 The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.

 

Standard 3.9 The educator shall refrain from inappropriate communication with a student or minor, including, but not limited to, electronic communication such as cell phone, text messaging, email, instant messaging, blogging, or other social network communication. Factors that may be considered in assessing whether the communication is inappropriate include, but are not limited to:

 

(i) the nature, purpose, timing, and amount of the communication;
(ii) the subject matter of the communication;
(iii) whether the communication was made openly or the educator attempted to conceal the communication;
(iv) whether the communication could be reasonably interpreted as soliciting sexual contact or a romantic relationship;
(v) whether the communication was sexually explicit; and
(vi) whether the communication involved discussion(s) of the physical or sexual attractiveness or the sexual history, activities, preferences, or fantasies of either the educator or the student.

This isn't the first incident of an inappropriate relationship with a student in the Texas Panhandle.

Parents have to live in a bubble of faith that when they send their children to a school that their children will be safe, especially from their teacher. Trust is placed in the hands of our educators to make sure our children are being taught, not being pursued.

Questions remain as to why this teacher hasn't been brought up on charges.  If the school district has reported the conduct to the TEA, then there was a warranted situation. If there was a situation then apparently this teacher broke the law. What is the reason charges aren't being filed? If this teacher is being protected, why? Aren't the lives of our children more important than the reputation of an adult? As an adult, we should know the difference between right and wrong, and if the wrong is chosen there should be consequences.

It's difficult to wrap one's head around the circumstances where an adult, especially a teacher would think it is OK to have a relationship with a student, no matter what their age.

If you are an educator, do not have inappropriate relationships with your students. One more time for the people in the back, if you are an educator, DO NOT HAVE INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR STUDENTS.

Read More: Arrested! Teachers Behaving Badly in the Texas Panhandle