A new ethics protocol proposed for the Martha's Vineyard Public Schools (MVPS) staff offers guidelines for setting boundaries in student/teacher relationships, in and out of the classroom.
The two-page document includes advice ranging from a caution to teachers to avoid being alone with students, to advice that teachers exercise caution when using Internet communication, such as emails, blogs, and social networking sites.
MVPS superintendent James Weiss has proposed adding the ethics protocol to a revised staff conduct policy he presented at the All-Island School Committee (AISC) meeting on February 18.
Revisions in the staff conduct policy, adopted in 2007, include only two changes, the addition of a reference to the ethics protocol, and a new sentence which reads, "They [teachers and others in the school community] are expected to maintain a culture of professionalism and respect, providing a healthy atmosphere for student growth and learning, while remaining within proper boundaries."
Mr. Weiss told the AISC that the new ethics protocol is based on a guideline for teachers used in Natick. "And the idea is to help staff understand what the boundaries are in their working with students and other staff members and the community at large," he said. "I've worked over the last number of months with the [teachers'] association to come up with some understandings that would be helpful to new teachers and old teachers alike, that would lay out some of the boundaries that need to be in place."
The revised staff conduct policy and new ethics protocol evolved against the backdrop of three incidents over the last eight months involving alleged misconduct by teachers.
On December 9, 2008, Daniel K. Johnson, a West Tisbury School industrial arts teacher, was arrested and faces criminal charges on multiple counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor and disseminating obscene material to a minor.
Mr. Johnson's arrest followed the sudden departure in November 2008 of a coach and driver's education instructor at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS). Although school officials said he left due to personnel issues, sources said his departure was due to inappropriate text messages he sent to students.
Last June, Martha's Vineyard Regional High School music teacher Daniel Murphy abruptly left his position following a criminal investigation by the Edgartown Police Department into charges of sexual misconduct with a student.
Mr. Weiss said in a phone call last week, however, that those incidents were not the determining factor in what went into the MVPS ethics protocol.
"School systems are not immune to interpersonal problems - we've had a few here, as have many others in the Commonwealth," Mr. Weiss said in a phone call last week. "The ethics protocol we're considering is broader, in the sense that we are not responding to any particular incident."
Advice in general
The protocol's introduction states that, "It is intended to be advisory in nature and is not merely a list of do's and don't's." As Mr. Weiss explained to the school committee last week, "If you were to say something like never touch a child, well, you know what, if you're a kindergarten teacher and little Johnny fell down, you're going to touch little Johnny - so it's how you go about it."
To that end, on the subject of physical contact with students, the ethics protocol recommends, "Consider when and how it might be appropriate to touch a student. Maintain a professional demeanor to avoid misinterpretation."
"It's a matter of making decisions in a meaningful, professional way," Mr. Weiss said. "But these are some boundaries, some guidelines, some assistance, especially for a new teacher starting out."
Although somewhat general in scope, the ethics protocol acknowledges that teachers on Martha's Vineyard face extra challenges in establishing boundaries.
"Because we live on a small island, it is often more difficult to determine where your responsibilities as a school staff member end and those of a parent, neighbor or even relative begin," the protocol states.
For Island teachers, the lines between classroom and community often overlap. They are apt to see their students no matter where they go - in stores and restaurants, at the beach, in church and in their neighborhoods. Teachers may socialize with some of their students' parents, and their children's friends also may be their students.
Adding to the difficulty of establishing boundaries with students is today's new technology, which offers instant communication via text messaging on cell phones and instant messaging and emails on computers.
To help Island educators sort it all out, the ethics protocol lists bulleted items under the categories, "In School," "Outside School," and "Staying Within Boundaries."
Some of the items address more specific details than others. For example, in cautioning teachers about contact with students outside of school, the protocol advises, "Do not send text messages or IMs [instant messages], invite students to your house or allow them to show up. Do not drive individual students in your car. Do not give personal advice about boyfriends or girlfriends. Always be careful when sending emails."
The ethics protocol also places responsibility on educators to police their own. Under the bulleted item, "Support the school culture of professionalism," the protocol advises, "Don't ignore situations. Help create a culture of intolerance for inappropriate behavior on the part of other staff. Letting incidents slide sends the message that you believe such behavior is acceptable. Always report incidents of inappropriate behavior and do not hesitate to address others when you consider their behavior questionable."
A collaborative process
After seeing Natick's guide for teachers, Mr. Weiss said he brought it forward to Island teachers and had some lengthy discussions about it with them. "It began with the teacher association leadership, and then the teacher advisory council, which is representatives from every school across Martha's Vineyard, who took the discussion up with folks in their individual school buildings," he said.
The Island's teachers' union is comprised of two groups, the Martha's Vineyard Educator's Association (MVEA), which includes Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Tisbury teachers, and the Martha's Vineyard Regional Teachers and Educators Association (MVRTEA), which includes the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School school district and Up-Island School District teachers and support staff.
"Everyone's very pleased with the ethics protocol - we're anxious to proceed with it being part of our lives," said MVEA co-president Barbara Jones in a phone call last week. "We're appreciative of the opportunity to give our feedback and to be part of something that's being shaped for Island teachers. It was a very good process."
Ms. Jones, a first-grade teacher at Oak Bluffs School, said she thinks the ethics protocol will be helpful for all teachers, and especially for those new to the profession, whether right out of college or from another career field.
AISC member and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School school committee chairman Susan Mercier said this week that she thinks the ethics protocol is a good, solid policy. "As a parent, I think the policy goes far enough," said Ms. Mercier, who has two daughters attending Martha's Vineyard Regional High School and one in college who graduated from there last year. "We are so lucky on this Island. Every school building is filled with adults that really care about our children. We can't lose sight of that, and I don't think you do with this policy. I think it's the perfect balance."
The AISC approved the first of three required readings of the revised staff conduct policy and school staff ethics protocol last week. A few committee members suggested changes to the protocol that Mr. Weiss will incorporate for the second reading at the AISC's meeting on March 12, 7 pm, at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
Ms. Mercier suggested adding something about keeping parents in the loop in contact with students. Les Baynes of Edgartown said wording about emails should be changed from "can be" to "are considered public documents." Priscilla Sylvia of Oak Bluffs wants to clarify advice for teachers about not driving with individual students in their cars, to cover situations such as a child left stranded after a field trip, for example.
