Tinkerings

Our local school board has scheduled a meeting with our system’s attorney to discuss questions pertaining to our new code of ethics policy passed back in February.  You will recall from previous posts on this blog that all team members (teachers, administrators, and other personnel) were asked to sign a form in May so that our district office would have a signature on file as prescribed in the code of ethics policy itself.  That request for  a signature sparked a lot of debate and questions.

As a result of a certain amount of uneasiness pertaining to the policy and the request for a signature, we were asked to submit questions to the secretary for the Director of Schools.  The meeting is open to the public, but it is not a public forum.  In other words, those of us who have questions will not be allowed to ask them personally.  I don’t have a problem with that plan.  It is probably the only way to keep order and to be finished with the meeting sometime on the same day it starts (which is Tuesday, July 6).

I sent my questions in early on.  My email is copied below:

Let me say up front that I support the ethics policy and have already signed my paperwork to be added to my personnel file.  However, I do have some questions for clarification related to the new ethics policy.

Question #1: Section B. General Subpoint 1 states, “In fulfillment of these guiding principles, it is imperative and should be remembered that All teachers, staff members, volunteers and those associated with Bradley County Schools, are part of our Educational Team; and as such, team members are bound by these Ethical statements and considerations.”  The policy states that ALL team members will submit a signed and dated copy of the ethics policy.  Since “volunteers” are part of the Educational Team, does this mean that all parents that volunteer in the classroom, on field trips, at fund raisers, and more will also be required to submit a signed copy?

Question #2: Section B. General Subpoints 5, 6, and 7 relate specifically to board members.  Would these be better placed in a separate section labeled for board members rather than a general section for all Team Members?

Question #3: Section C. Principle 1 (lines 43,44) states, “The Team member deals considerately and justly with each student, and seeks to resolve problems, including discipline, according to law and school policy.”  The Policy 6.314 states, “Any principal, assistant principal or full-time teacher may use corporal punishment in a reasonable manner against any student for good cause in order to maintain discipline and order within the public schools.”  Mr. McDaniel has requested that no teacher administer corporal punishment.  With the ethics policy in place, does the school board plan to amend policy 6.314?

Question #4: Section D. Principle II (line 21) uses the term “social prudence.”  How does the board define this term?

Question #5: Section D. Principle II (lines 26, 27) states, “The Team member complies with written local school policies, applicable laws and regulations that are not in conflict with this code of ethics.”  This appears to state that if there is a conflict between an “applicable law” and the code of ethics that the ethics policy must be followed.  Is this what is meant, or is this a misprint?

If you choose to use any of these questions, I ask that they be used in their entirety and not be edited.

Thank you.  I look forward to the meeting on Tuesday, and to supporting the board in their decision to create this document.

After some consideration, there is another question I would like answered, but I haven’t sent it in yet.  That question is this:

Since the TN legislature codified a code of ethics for teachers, why didn’t the board use that code of ethics as the main body for the section pertaining to all team members?

I plan to be at the meeting on July 6 to listen to the debate and lend my support to the board for passing this policy.  Will I see you there?