Latest big issue: TechnologyLatest big issue: Technology and the ever-blurring boundaries
John Anderson, Head of Professional Practice, GTCS
From email to text and from blogging to tweets, technology is becoming an ever-present in our lives and an increasingly essential tool in the classroom.
The ability to communicate in real time with others and access networks across the world brings with it great opportunities for teachers. It also offers great challenges as the boundary between teacher and pupil can quickly become blurred.
These days all professions are subject to wide scrutiny and it can be hard to tell the difference between perception and reality. The views of teachers on their own profession are important and are at the centre of a self-regulating profession. However, the perspective of parents and the understandable fears of the wider public about inappropriate use of the internet also have to be considered; and these views can sometimes be shaped by sources which are unpredictable - including the media. Teachers therefore need to be alert to the risk that actions which might, on the face of it, seem quite innocent can be misunderstood and misconstrued by others.
There is no barrier, either legal or professional, to a registered teacher having and operating a social networking account on sites like Facebook, Twitter or Bebo. However, GTC Scotland's Code of Professionalism and Conduct (CoPAC) makes it clear that pupil/teacher communication of any kind must be professional, appropriate and justified. Given the potential for private, one-to-one communication within the social networking setting, dangers abound.
Risk
Communicating with pupils using secure school/college systems in compliance with employer's policies is, of course, both appropriate and helpful. However, teachers who use private, one-to-one channels of communication with pupils such as personal email or Facebook accounts for example, are in danger of placing themselves in a somewhat risky situation.
Teachers should be extremely cautious in using any form of technology which might leave them open to any criticism or suggestion that they are unable to maintain an appropriate professional relationship with their pupils and students. It is worth noting, for example, that GTC Scotland's Disciplinary Sub-Committee has in the past imposed the ultimate sanction of removal from the register on teachers who seriously breached the pupil/teacher boundary using MSN messaging. For the avoidance of doubt, there should be absolutely no ambiguity or perceived ambiguity between a teacher's private life and his or her professional life in electronic communications.
Privacy
The internet is not only a very powerful and, indeed, extraordinary tool, it is also by its very nature worldwide. A teacher is, of course, perfectly entitled to have personal photos on Facebook or other information publicly available on the web that is accessible to family and friends. This material is however not necessarily appropriate for pupils to access and may have the potential to cause professional and personal embarrassment to a teacher. It makes a lot of sense therefore for teachers to ensure that there are appropriate privacy settings on their accounts and to review them on a regular basis.
Professionalism online extends beyond the interface with pupils. Teachers are entitled to a private life and to hold personal views and opinions just like anyone else. However, by the same token, common sense and due care should also be exercised to ensure that professional boundaries are not crossed.
Professionalism
Equality and diversity are key values of GTC Scotland and CoPAC. GTC Scotland will take a serious view of any teacher who blogs or uses other means to make, or incite others to make, for example, racist, sectarian or other professionally unacceptable remarks.
Similarly, public, online criticism or inappropriate comments about colleagues is to be avoided, as is the making of inappropriate or unprofessional comments about one's employer.
Sections 2 and 4 of the CoPAC are also clear about pupil/student confidentiality and the importance of partnership with parents. Therefore, for example, publicly discussing or commenting on classes, individual pupils or parents in an online setting is not appropriate.
Appropriate use of new technology
Embracing new technology is essential to the development of our society and it enables teachers to connect with pupils, employing the very means young people use themselves day in and day out.
GTC Scotland is strongly in favour of teachers exploring technology and using it appropriately in the teaching and learning setting. That said, public trust and the very nature of the work teachers do with children and young people are inseparable.
Therefore the requirement that teachers establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries in their relationships with children and young people is just as important online as it is offline.
Related websites
Copies of COPAC have been sent to all schools and colleges and can be found at www.gtcs.org.uk/copac
For more information on professional conduct, please visit www.gtcs.org.uk/professionalconduct
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