Ethical dilemma

1. Education 2003 Ethical dilemma Group Three Lisa Cox - Alecia Evans – Whitney Farris – Jami Gerstberger – Christen Gleaton

2. What is our dilemma? • A sex education teacher uses a district-approved curriculum, but decides to supplement a chapter by bringing in a guest speaker. The discussion begins to get sexually explicit. The next day a parent calls to complain. Is this an issue of academic freedom?

3. Expanding further… • An eighth grade Health teacher, using a district-approved curriculum for sex education asks a Registered Nurse to be a guest speaker in class during a chapter on STD’s. The RN is aware of the Texas State standards of teaching abstinence only. The RN presented the topic and gave information about the diseases and how to prevent them (by abstinence). Right as the presentation was ending a student raised their hand and asked…

4. Expanding further… • “Can you get these diseases from oral sex?” • The nurse responded by truthfully answering, “Yes, these diseases can be contracted orally”. • The bell rang and class was dismissed. • The next day, a parent calls the principle to complain.

5. Defining academic freedom www.dictionary.com • Liberty to teach, pursue, and discuss knowledge without restriction or interference, as by school or public officials.

6. Texas code of ethics: • (e)  Any course materials and instruction relating to human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome shall be selected by the board of trustees with the advice of the local school health advisory council and must: • (1)  present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried persons of school age; • (2)  devote more attention to abstinence from sexual activity than to any other behavior; • (3)  emphasize that abstinence from sexual activity, if used consistently and correctly, is the only method that is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, infection with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity; • (4)  direct adolescents to a standard of behavior in which abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and infection with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and • (5)  teach contraception and condom use in terms of human use reality rates instead of theoretical laboratory rates, if instruction on contraception and condoms is included in curriculum content. • (f)  A school district may not distribute condoms in connection with instruction relating to human sexuality. • (g)  A school district that provides human sexuality instruction may separate students according to sex for instructional purposes.

7. Texas code of ethics cont. • (h)  The board of trustees shall determine the specific content of the district's instruction in human sexuality, in accordance with Subsections (e), (f), and (g). • (i)   A school district shall notify a parent of each student enrolled in the district of: • (1)  the basic content of the district's human sexuality instruction to be provided to the student; and • (2)  the parent's right to remove the student from any part of the district's human sexuality instruction. • (j)  A school district shall make all curriculum materials used in the district's human sexuality instruction available for reasonable public inspection. • EDUCATION CODE, TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION, SUBTITLE E. STUDENTS AND PARENTS, CHAPTER 26. PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Sec. 26.010.  EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION.  (a)  A parent is entitled to remove the parent's child temporarily from a class or other school activity that conflicts with the parent's religious or moral beliefs if the parent presents or delivers to the teacher of the parent's child a written statement authorizing the removal of the child from the class or other school activity. A parent is not entitled to remove the parent's child from a class or other school activity to avoid a test or to prevent the child from taking a subject for an entire semester. • (b)  This section does not exempt a child from satisfying grade level or graduation requirements in a manner acceptable to the school district and the agency.

8. Relevant issues… • This situation could be ethically relevant to Family Values, Parental Rights, and Academic Freedom. Do public or private schools always instill the same values as the students family? Some families may have open and honest discussions about human sexuality at home, while others might choose to not talk about these things at all. Under State Law parents have the right to keep their children from a class temporarily if the content conflicts with the parent’s religious or moral beliefs. This also brings up the issue of academic freedom.

9. Relevant issues Cont… • Because one family does not like the content of the program, does that family have the right to shut that program down? The teacher or speakers should be able to have some freedom to express their own views, as well as the students should be free to inquire about the things they wish to know more about. This inquiry and seeking of knowledge is important to the development of a student’s critical thinking skills. The teacher is bound by the rules and the code of ethics that governs curriculum, however; the student that asked the question had the right to ask the question due to his or her academic freedom.

10. People Affected TEACHER Principle Students & parents PTA/SCHOOL Board Guest speaker

11. Any other information needed? #1 #2 What did the student tell their parents to make them so upset that they called the principle? It is important to have a meeting with the parents and listen attentively to their concerns about the situation. It is critical to have the teacher and nurse involved give a written and/or oral account of their perspective before meeting with the parents. In doing this the administrator can get a better feel for all perspectives of the situation.

12. Possible Solution 1 • Have a meeting with the Teacher involved, Principle, Visiting Nurse (if possible) and concerned parent(s). In this meeting: • Let the parents voice their concerns and ask questions about the situation. It is important to get as much information as possible. • Allow parents to sign a permission slip for their child to continue attending this class. Solution one may address the need for students to have a written consent before attending a Human Sexuality Class.  In the consent a general overview of what the topics of discussion will be and on what day.  If there was a particular topic that the parents did not want their children exposed too, then they could arrange for their child to be in study hall or the library during this time.

13. Solution 1 consequences Short-Term: A meeting after the fact to discuss the problems could still leave parents upset about what information their child was already exposed to. On-Going: Should a parent decide to remove their child from the Human Sexuality course at this point, it leaves the child in an awkward confused situation where they will continue to have questions. Long-Term: The meeting could spark interest of other parents in the community and give them reason to believe they are misinformed about something that went on in their child's class. Psychological Costs: This leaves some of the children confused as to why they are unable to complete the course like their fellow classmates

14. Social Costs: Other children might tease one child because their parent wouldnt let them continue the course Economic Costs: Some parents could find the meeting economically inconvenient due to the far distance they will have to drive or the hours of work they will miss.

15. Possible Solution 2 • Host two meetings about Human Sexuality before the class could continue.  • The first meeting would be in the evening and parents would be invited to experience the same session that their children will have at school.  • At this session parents can ask questions and become more informed about the information that the school will be providing.  At this point the parent can make a decision on whether they agree that their child should continue attending the class. The presenters will be a school district nurse and a school district counselor that are well versed in the approved district curriculum. Parents would be required to sign at the end of the meeting in order to make sure that the form was not lost between the student and teacher later.

16. Solution 2 consequences Short-Term: A parent may be unable to attend the meeting where all the rest of the material will be viewed before shown in class. On-Going: In the meeting parent might request that the information be altered, added or left out. Long-Term: Other parents that choose not to attend the meeting may receive information from the parents that did attend and request another meeting time be scheduled to fit their needs. Psychological Costs: Students may feel embarrassed that their parents are so deeply involved in what they believe is "no big deal".

17. Social Costs: Colleagues could be misinformed about your situation and assume that everything is your fault. Economical Costs: Meeting after meeting cuts into your time in which you are not getting paid.

18. Supreme court case Bettye Coleman et al. v. Caddo Parish School Board Bettye Coleman sued the Caddo Parish School Board to prevent the two abstinence-based sex education curricula from being taught because it was taught of moral beliefs and was religiously based. In 1993, a Louisiana state judge barred the Caddo Parish School Board from using a sex education curriculum that teaches students to abstain from sexual intercourse until after marriage on the grounds that it is medically inaccurate and contains religious beliefs.

19. Course of action we chose Solution 2 • This course of action is best because while it provides time to discuss opinions and feelings about the issues at hand, it also makes the parents aware of exactly what information will be passed on to their child.

20. Commitment letter: Dear Families, Due to the concern that some of you have expressed regarding our first Human Sexuality session, Nurse Thompson and I would like to invite you all to attend a meeting December 2nd from 7:00-8:30 p.m. During this time we will be taking a look at the existing material that remains in the Human Sexuality course in order for you to have an exact understanding of what your child will be expected to learn from this course. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me at anytime between now and the meeting. Thank you all for assuming an active roll in your child's education. Sincerly, Alecia Nicole Evans email : aevans6@twu.edu Day phone: (512) 654-3210

21. Negative consequences & Our plan for each Possible Consequence #1 -A parent may be unable to attend the meeting where all the rest of the material will be viewed before shown in class. Our plan : If parent gives notice to the school of his/ her absence, then a summary of the information covered in the meeting can be sent to her by email or by phone. If no notice is given to the school, then contacting the parent to confirm that his/ her child is still available to attend the class discussion.  If the parent can not be reached then the child will not attend the discussion.

22. Possible Consequence #2 In the meeting a parent might request that information be altered, added or left out. Our plan The school will take into concern their opinions, but If the parents has some concern about the material then it will be suggested that the child does not attend the discussion.

23. Possible Consequence #3 Other parents that choose to not attend the meeting may receive information from the parents that did attend and request another meeting time be scheduled to fit their needs. Our plan The teacher might request that the parents who did not attend make a list of their main concerns and questions. They may then email or meet after school with the teacher to address any issues.

24. Possible Consequence #4 Meeting after meeting cuts into your time in which you are not getting paid. Our plan This is part of the job.  If it is important information you believe is necessary to the child then this will not be an issue.  We are here for the children and parents as well.

25. In conclusion 1. Part of being a successful teacher means running into problems. When it happens, know that actions to take in order to achieve success. 2. Realize that the parent’s concerns are as equally important as their children’s needs. Happy parents = happy children. 3. Always attempt a respectful compromise because parents are more willing to work with that and could possibly end up thanking you.