Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Cooperating teacher invites student teacher to have a beer after school A divorced, 43 year-old male 4th grade teacher is assigned a student teacher from the local university. She is 22, pretty, and has an engaging personality. At the end of the first week of the student teaching experience, the cooperating teacher invites the student teacher to have a beer after school to celebrate a successful first week. She declines his offer. At the end of the second week of her student teaching, the cooperating teacher invites her out to dinner so that they can discuss lesson plans for the following week. She again declines his invitation. She then rushes to the university and tells the student teaching coordinator that she will not return to his classroom as she is being sexually harassed. She states that she is contemplating filing charges against the teacher. Is there merit to the student teacher's allegations? What are the legal and ethical considerations of this situation? How should the university and the elementary school principal deal with this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) While the student teacher has every right to feel uncomfortable about the situation, I do not believe that she has merit to file a sexual harassment claim against the teacher. While it is inappropriate of him to invite her out in such a way due to their professional relationship, I do not believe that he crossed the line into harassment. If this student teacher is really bothered by her CT's actions, she should speak with her university supervisor about receiving a new placement.