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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!)
I agree that the situation is not the most appropriate, but I do not think he is breaking any laws. Due to the fact that she is a legal adult, I think he legally has the right to invite her out in a social way. However, I do feel that this situation is highly inappropriate given that they are in a work setting, he asked her out for an alcoholic beverage, and he asked her again after she declined the first invitation. If the student teacher has expressed to the cooperating teacher that she does not want to socialize with him outside of the classroom, then he should respect her wishes. If I were her, I would speak to my university's site coordinator about changing my assignment. The cooperating teacher did not make any sexual advances at her, but I do not think that she should be forced to feel uncomfortable with her cooperating teacher's invitations. From there, I feel that it is the university's site coordinator's place to contact the elementary school and explain why the student teacher has requested to be removed from that placement in order to prevent it from happening again. I do not think this situation constitutes any charges being filed, but I do think that the student teacher has the right to request a new placement. |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I agree that the cooperating teacher is being inappropriate but he did not make sexual advances toward her. |
Rated On: October 3, 2015 4:56 pm |
Rated By: aDuvej |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I agree with this solution completely, it deals with the situation in a profession manner. I don't think there should be charges pressed against the cooperating teacher, but the student teacher should be able to feel comfortable. |
Rated On: October 19, 2015 2:13 am |
Rated By: eRymaT |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I agree. What he's doing is sexual harassment, but he might not realize he's making the student uncomfortable. I don't think pressing charges is necessary, but yes, the student should not have to go back and the school should be notified as to why. |
Rated On: March 1, 2016 8:37 pm |
Rated By: daPaJa |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: Great feedback. |
Rated On: March 6, 2017 4:10 am |
Rated By: aDuZyJ |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: Because the teacher did not make sexual advances, I agree that he cannot be sued for his actions, although they are seemingly inappropriate.
The student teacher should be reassigned a classroom if she feels uncomfortable in her current one. |
Rated On: July 9, 2017 6:21 pm |
Rated By: Cali Pohlman |
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Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I think this is beautifully well written. |
Rated On: October 16, 2017 12:08 am |
Rated By: eGabez |
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