Educational Scenarios Each educational scenario you will provide you with the opportunity to provide evidence of your

understanding regarding the Code of Ethics and the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida, federal laws, and a teachers obligation to comply with a Florida law or court decree that addresses the rights and obligations of students, parents, and educators. In order to receive credit for this assignment, you must submit valid responses to each scenario. It is expected that you will take nearly one page to address each situation. Please make sure you identify the specific scenarios to which you are responding. Assignments must be submitted prior to the start of class on February 1st. You may submit materials electronically (cswain@coe.ufl.edu) or submit a hard copy to me when you come to class on February 1st. Scenario #1: Ms. Hale is looking forward to the start of the school year. As she looks at her roster, she notices two well-known names on her class roster. Inwardly, she groans and decides how she will handle these two troublemakers---these two students are low achievers (at least 2 levels below the sophomore level) so they tend to cause problems. Ms. Hale decides that she will confront these students head-on the very first day of school. On the first day of school, she assigns all students seats and puts these two students at the back of the room sitting next to each other. The first day goes well as Ms. Hale presents the class rules, distributes materials, and gets students moving. Toward the end of the class, Ms. Hale calls these students to her desk, which is also located at the back of the room. Ms. Hale tells the two students that she will give them simple worksheets each day so they can be successful. Ms. Hale tells the students that because she is going to provide a strategy where they can be academically successful, she expects them to behave and not to cause any trouble. She will work with the class on their materials but they must work on their worksheets so they can earn a good grade in the class. Ms. Hale is rather proud of her strategy. In the teachers lunch area the next day she shares with her fellow teachers that these two particular students (and calls them by name) are doing well because shes giving them easy worksheets in exchange for them behaving in class. She shares with the other teachers that shes looked at these students academic records and they are awful. They are below grade level in every subject, have reports of instances involving the police, and she cant believe they are still in school. She is sure they will drop out the second they turn sixteen and shes sure shell soon see their pictures on the local news. Discuss this situation in terms of federal laws, and the Florida Code of Ethics and Principles of Conduct. Scenario #2: Mrs. Sharpe teaches middle school language arts and has always loved it. She adores this

age level and finds the students a complete joy. She realizes adolescents can be extremely challenging but to her, the students are worth it. Mrs. Sharpe is very devoted and attuned to her students. She notices that one student, Molly, has changed in her behavior and academic progressand the change is not for the better. Mrs. Sharpe asks Molly if everything is okay and she reports that all is well. Mrs. Sharpe is a very innovative teacher and enjoys using technology in her classroom. She sends out emails to her class all the time. She decided to have all students listed in the TO section of the email so an electronic sense of community can develop among her class. Students seem to love having access to each other and like getting the emails from her. They tell her this all the time! One day Mrs. Sharpe receives word that Mollys mother has requested a meeting with her. Mrs. Sharpe is so glad to meet with Molly and her mothershes been concerned about Molly. At the meeting, Mrs. Sharpe learns that the other girls in the class have been harassing Molly through email. What has Mrs. Sharpe done to contribute to this problem? In what way(s) has she violated federal and state codes? How can she attempt to help resolve this situation? Scenario #3: Mr. Craig teaches 9th grade American History at a school known for having a high percentage of its students on free and reduced lunch. He has a mixed ability classroom (a mix of special education and regular education students) so he works with a special education teacher each day as well. Mr. Craigs room is in a portable building so it is long and narrow. Mr. Craig creates an area for him on one end of the portable leaving 3/4th of the room for students. He creates a U of chairs around the edge of the room and then has a series of rows within the center section of the U. He puts the students ESE (special needs students) in the U around the classroom. The regular education students sit in the rows in the center of the classroom. A diagram of the classroom is below.

Mr. Craig is always calling students down and poor behavior is a norm for the class. Overall, students are not successful in this class. Mr. Craig states that he is happy if students are here and not causing problems out on the street. He notes with all the drugs in the community and this specific neighborhood, these students are not interested in learning and he is thankful history is not on the FCAT. Discuss Mr. Craigs classroom making sure to focus on his overall adherence to ethical

expectations for Florida teachers. Scenario #4 It is Friday after lunch6th period. The end of the day is almost here. Mr. Sparks students are rowdy and uninterested in learning math, and honestly, Mr. Sparks is tired and ready for the weekend. As students come into the classroom, they are boisterous and loud. As the tardy bell rings and students scoot into their chairs and get ready for class, Mr. Sparks loudly pronounces, Alright you Motley Crew, lets see if you yahoos cant learn something today so we can leave the week on a positive note. Mr. Sparks sits down at his desk and begins to explain the concept of area and the formula for calculating the area of a rectangle. Students diligently follow along in the textbook and a majority of the students work the guided practice problems correctly. For a challenge problem for the weekend, Mr. Sparks assigns a moderately difficult word problem that requires students to use the area formula for a rectangle to solve the problem. Once the lesson is formally over, students start working on their homework and Mr. Sparks sits at his desk. He chats with some of the students about their plans for the weekend and other small talk. When students start getting too loud, Mr. Sparks yells at the class to settle down and this restores order in the classroom. When the bell rings, Mr. Sparks is the first out the door to head to the teachers lounge for a few minutes before the next class begins. Discuss this situation in terms of the Florida Code of Ethics and Principles of Conduct.

Gemma%Holdman% ESE634510398% Educational%Scenarios% Scenario)#1) % % In%this%scenario%I%believe%Ms.%Hale%handled%the%two%well1known%troublemakers% unethically%and%set%them%up%to%fail%from%the%beginning%of%the%school%year.%%Under%the%Code%of% Ethics%in%Florida,%section%6B11.001%states%that%educators%must%value%the%worth%of%every% person%and%guarantee%equal%opportunity%for%all.%%In%addition,%the%essential%professional% concern%of%educators%is%the%student%and%developing%their%potential.%%By%separating%two%of% her%students%from%the%regular%classroom%instruction%and%assignments,%Ms.%Hale%clearly%does% not%value%these%students,%nor%does%she%have%concern%for%developing%their%potential%by% requiring%them%to%complete%simple%worksheets.%%Ms.%Hale%is%denying%them%the%right%of% acquisition%of%knowledge%that%the%rest%of%her%students%are%receiving%because%of%her% preconceived%judgments%made%prior%to%meeting%those%students%herself.% % Under%the%Principles%of%Professional%Conduct%in%Florida,%Ms.%Hale%violates%several% articles%from%section%6B11.006.%%By%segregating%two%of%her%students%from%the%regular% instruction%Ms.%Hale%is%unreasonably%denying%them%access%to%diverse%points%of%view%and%is% intentionally%suppressing%subject%matter.%%Furthermore,%by%addressing%the%two%students% together%she%is%exposing%them%to%potential%embarrassment%among%one%another%and%possibly% other%students.%%In%life,%the%teenage%years%are%hard%enough%in%general,%let%alone%when%ones% teachers%set%them%up%for%additional%emotional%discomfort%and%lack%of%encouragement%and% support.% % On%a%federal%standpoint,%Ms.%Hale%is%violating%FERPA%by%sharing%her%strategies%for%the% two%troublemakers%with%fellow%teachers.%%She%discloses%their%names%to%her%co1workers%and% even%goes%into%details%about%private%information%on%their%personal%records.%%FERPA%was%set% up%to%protect%students%and%Ms.%Hale%completely%disregards%her%students%privacy%and%is%even% proud%of%her%unethical%actions.% % I%believe%that%Ms.%Hale%should%have%handled%these%two%students%very%differently%from% the%beginning%of%the%school%year.%%Individual%meetings%for%both%students%ought%to%have%been% set%up%to%create%individualized%educational%plans%(IEPs).%%This%would%allow%their%teachers,% additional%school%personnel%and%parents%to%have%a%generalized%goal%for%them%throughout%the% school%year.%%IEPs%would%help%them%reach%educational%goals%with%additional%assistance%they% need%from%all%parties%involved.% % Ms.%Hale%judged%those%two%students%before%they%even%entered%her%classroom.%%She% held%them%to%lower%educational%standards%than%the%rest%of%her%students%and%did%not%even% give%them%the%benefit%of%the%doubt%in%regards%to%their%personalities%and%learning%abilities.%%In% the%process,%Ms.%Hale%violated%both%federal%laws%and%Florida%state%laws%and%did%not%conduct% herself%to%the%ethical%standards%educators%are%held%to.% ! 1%

Gemma%Holdman% ESE634510398% Educational%Scenarios% Scenario)#2% % % Mrs.%Sharpe%appears%to%be%a%very%good%teacher%overall%%she%cares%about%her%students% and%seems%to%be%quite%aware%of%changes%in%their%behavior%and%actions.%%However,%one%major% flaw%in%Mrs.%Sharpes%instructional%plans%is%with%her%student%e1mails.%%She%included%all% students%e1mail%addresses%in%the%TO%section,%allowing%all%of%her%students%to%view%one% anothers%personal%addresses.%%Mrs.%Sharpe%perceived%this%to%create%a%sense%of%community% among%her%class%but%in%fact%enabled%students%an%easy%access%to%bullying.% % Including%students%personal%e1mail%addresses%in%the%TO%section%violates%both%federal% and%state%laws.%%From%a%federal%perspective,%FERPA%was%not%taken%into%account.%%FERPA% protects%the%privacy%of%students%records%from%disclosure%to%others%and%Mrs.%Sharpe% completely%disregards%these%rights.%%Under%the%Principles%of%Professional%Conduct%in% Florida,%it%states%that%educators%will%make%reasonable%effort%to%protect%students%from% conditions%harmful%to%learning%and%the%students%mental/physical%safety%and%health.%% Additionally,%teachers%should%keep%in%confidence%personally%identifiable%information% obtained%through%working%in%the%school%environment.%%Mrs.%Sharpe%unintentionally%causes% Molly%emotional%harm,%which%subsequently%affects%her%academic%progress.%%This%harm%was% caused%because%fellow%classmates%bullied%Molly%via%e1mail.% % In%attempt%to%remedy%the%situation%Mrs.%Sharpe%instigated,%she%should%immediately% stop%inserting%students%personal%e1mail%addresses%in%the%TO%section.%%By%creating%an%e1mail% distribution%list%for%her%classes%or%blind%carbon%copying%all%e1mail%addresses,%Mrs.%Sharpe% will%satisfy%student%privacy%rights%under%the%federal%FERPA.%%In%regards%to%the%bullying% students,%Mrs.%Sharpe%should%distribute%appropriate%punishments%to%the%female%students% for%their%disrespectful%and%unacceptable%actions%towards%Molly.%%Mrs.%Sharpe%should%also% keep%an%eye%out%for%any%additional%negative%behaviors/actions%or%bullying%in%her%classroom% and%respond%accordingly.%%With%concern%to%the%change%in%Mollys%behavior%and%academic% performance,%I%believe%Mrs.%Sharpe%should%have%contacted%Mollys%parents%after%Molly% reported%that%she%was%fine.%%Mrs.%Sharpe%apparently%noticed%both%a%change%in%behavior%and% grades,%which%clearly%shows%that%something%is%off%kilter%in%her%life.% % Mrs.%Sharpe%conducts%her%instruction%and%teaching%with%good%intentions;%however,% by%including%students%personal%e1mail%addresses%in%the%TO%section%she%violates%both%federal% and%state%codes%and%even%triggers%bullying%among%female%students%in%her%class.%%If%Mrs.% Sharpe%was%more%aware%of%federal%and%state%educational%laws%with%regards%to%privacy,%she% could%have%prevented%the%cyber%harassment%that%Molly%endured.% % % % % ! 2%

Gemma%Holdman% ESE634510398% Educational%Scenarios% Scenario)#3% % % In%this%scenario,%Id%first%like%to%say%that%Mr.%Craig%should%not%be%a%teacher.%%He%does% not%seem%to%care%about%the%performance%of%his%students%and%even%talks%down%to%them.%%With% a%classroom%containing%both%special%education%students%and%regular%students%(most%of% whom%receive%free/reduced%lunches),%he%should%be%more%atoned%to%their%special%needs% and/or%extra%requirements%necessary%to%help%them%thrive%in%their%academics.%%Furthermore,% it%is%inappropriate%for%Mr.%Craig%to%assume%that%his%students%are%not%interested%in%learning% due%to%the%type%of%neighborhood%they%live%in.%%Perhaps%his%negative%perceptions%show% outwardly%to%his%students,%partially%causing%their%poor%performance%and%behaviors%in%his% classroom.%%Mr.%Craig%does%not%adhere%to%the%ethical%expectations%for%teachers%in%Florida.% % Under%the%Code%of%Ethics,%section%6B11.001,%it%states%that%the%educator%values%the% worth%and%dignity%of%every%person,%noting%that%their%primary%concern%will%always%be%for%the% student%and%their%academic%development.%%Moreover,%the%educator%continually%strives%to% conduct%themselves%at%high%degrees%of%moral%and%ethical%standards.%%Mr.%Craig%clearly%does% not%value%the%worth%of%his%students%and%is%not%trying%to%develop%his%students%to%their% maximum%potential.%%Nobody%likes%to%be%criticized,%whether%one%is%emotionally%stable%or%not.%% Considering%the%fact%that%Mr.%Craig%has%special%need%students%as%well%as%students%belonging% to%unfortunate%socioeconomic%backgrounds,%he%should%be%aware%the%difficulties%that%some% of%his%students%face%in%their%daily%lives%and%should%avoid%adding%unnecessary%emotional% distress.%%I%believe%Mr.%Craig%could%be%contributing%to%his%students%poor%behavior%and% performance%by%his%unethical%conduct.% % In%addition%to%violating%the%Code%of%Ethics,%Mr.%Craig%also%violates%parts%of%section%6B1 1.006%%Principles%of%Professional%Conduct.%%By%talking%down%to%his%students,%Mr.%Craig%is%not% making%a%reasonable%effort%to%protect%his%class%from%conditions%harmful%to%learning%and% their%mental%health.%%Also,%Mr.%Craigs%seating%arrangement%segregates%the%special%needs% students%from%the%rest%of%the%class,%which%could%cause%embarrassment%and%may%not%satisfy% special%requirements%needed%to%satisfy%the%ADA.%%Besides%the%principles%noted%above,% section%6B11.006%also%states%that%educators%shall%not%unreasonably%deny%students%the%access% to%diverse%points%of%view%or%harass/discriminate%against%students%on%the%basis%of%social%and% family%background.%%Mr.%Craigs%assumption%that%his%students%are%not%interested%in%learning% due%to%the%neighborhood%they%reside%in%is%discrimination%and%he%is%not%allowing%them%the% option%to%advance%academically%in%history%class%due%to%his%doubtful%views.% % Mr.%Craig%does%not%satisfy%many%components%of%the%Code%of%Ethics%or%Principles%of% Professional%Conduct%for%Educators%in%Florida.%%I%would%not%want%to%be%associated%with%an% educator%who%conducts%himself%to%such%low%standards%of%ethics.% ! 3%

Gemma%Holdman% ESE634510398% Educational%Scenarios% Scenario)#4% % % Mr.%Sparks%does%not%conduct%himself%in%a%professional%manner%that%follows%the%Code% of%Ethics%and%Principles%of%Professional%Conduct%for%educators%in%Florida.%%The%Code%of% Ethics,%section%6B11.001,%states%that%the%educator%values%the%worth%and%dignity%of%every% person,%devotion%to%excellence,%acquisition%of%knowledge,%and%the%nurture%of%democratic% citizenship.%%The%educators%main%concern%is%always%for%the%student%and%their%educational% development%and%the%educator%strives%to%conduct%themselves%in%highest%degree%of%ethical% standards.%%Mr.%Sparks%does%not%abide%by%this%code%due%to%his%following%actions:%calling%his% class%Motley%Crew%and%yahoos,%yelling%at%his%class%to%regain%order%and%leaving%the% classroom%before%his%students.%%As%Florida%educators,%our%primary%concern%is%the% development%and%well%being%of%our%students.%%Mr.%Sparks%demeaning%comments%and% apathetic%actions%are%inappropriate%and%unethical.% % Mr.%Sparks%behaviors%and%actions%also%disregard%some%of%the%Principles%of% Professional%Conduct%for%educators%in%Florida.%%His%belittling%remarks%could%cause% unnecessary%embarrassment%and%disparagement%to%his%students.%%These%criticisms%also% violate%the%principle%stating%that%educators%shall%make%reasonable%effort%to%protect%the% student%from%conditions%harmful%to%learning%and/or%their%mental%health.%%If%a%teacher%of% mine%belittled%me,%not%only%would%I%lose%respect%for%them%as%a%person%but%I%would%also%have% difficulties%learning%to%my%full%potential.%%Name1calling%is%hurtful,%whether%or%not%it%is%said% sarcastically%or%in%different%terms.%%All%educators%should%hold%themselves%to%high%moral%and% ethical%standards.%%Many%students%look%up%to%their%teachers%as%role%models%so%they%should% always%conduct%themselves%appropriately%and%professionally%both%in%the%workplace%and%in% their%communities.% % In%this%scenario,%Mr.%Sparks%violates%sections%of%both%the%Code%of%Ethics%and% Principles%of%Professional%Conduct%for%educators%in%Florida.%%Whether%or%not%one%is%tired% and/or%has%extraneous%problems%in%their%personal%life,%during%school%hours,%teachers%must% maintain%their%professionalism%and%hold%themselves%to%high%ethical%and%moral%standards.%% Doing%so%will%supplement%their%primary%professional%goal%of%developing%students%to%reach% their%highest%academic%potential.% %

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