Education of Parallel Universes - Essay Example

In responding to teachers’ controversial lifestyles and out-of-school conduct, dilemmas have surfaced endlessly since the way one action is addressed in a certain scenario might not be the same in another setting. It might not be possible to prevent the occurrence of controversial behaviors but some of the recent cases have raised many concerns about to what extent the school officials and the law may go when regulating teacher’s out-of-school conduct. The community setting also dictates and influences the course of action to regulate conduct.

Scenario

Using the law in a rural community

In a Big City

In a School Setting

A teacher insulting and abusing her husband's mistress

Summoning and punishment

Legal action: Filing cases against the action

Suspension to condemn the behaviour and instil discipline

A teacher’s topless photos appearing on social media e.g. Facebook

Coercion into resigning,

Public criticism,

Summons in due course

Criticism in all means to condemn the behaviour, fines if possible

Dismissal as it might interfere with attitude, performance and reputation

Drug possession in a private car

Calling for legal action

legal action to regulate conduct

Immediate dismissal

Participating in wet T-shirt contests

Not responsible. Does not affect outsiders

Overlook

Soft disciplinary actions e.g. fines

Teachers' failure to file income taxes

Forwarding to top authorities.

Legal action to call for responsiveness

For the school’s responsibility. Ignored

Dealing with private life issues continues to pose a great challenge in the legal setting bearing in mind that there are no standard regulations to handle similar cases. The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment regulates interference with privacy by stipulating that no state can deprive anyone of life, liberty, or property without due execution of the law (Williams, 2010). In a school setting, substantive due process offers the state some powers to regulate certain activities hence effective handling of teachers’ controversial lifestyles that might interfere with reputation or ability to perform. In cases of dismissal or charges against any teacher, an adequate explanation of the evidence must be provided though due process does not prescribe reasons for dismissal apart from the procedures (Alexander & Alexander, 2011).

The law provides directions to regulate behaviour while at times it may not be very effective in explaining to what extent the standards of behaviour should be. At times double standardization is evident though the law plays its part by dictating the necessary procedures. School officials must be very vigilant when dealing with out-of-school conduct since not all jurisdictions have adopted the nexus theory. The nexus theory holds it that a teacher’s off-duty conduct might negatively affect his/her teaching effectiveness hence the need to discipline behaviours (Elis, 2010). Regarding the precepts of the theory, more emphasis is attached to the impact of the teacher’s off-duty conduct hence disciplining in equal measure.

The community standards also influence to a great extent issues involving teachers’ out-of-school conduct. Depending on the responsiveness and awareness of the community to initiate a course of action towards out-of-conduct issues, behaviours may be encouraged or discouraged. For instance, as illustrated in the table the response is not equal in weight in the rural setting as compared with the big city. Communities may have their style of handling issues and this in turn affects conduct. In locales to note, an exposed community will have an upper hand to deal with social media controversies, which the remote or extremely rural setting might not be well positioned to handle. However, standards should be maintained all through. Read More