Week 29 Activity 5: Ethics with Screenagers

 Legal and ethical contexts in my digital practice

Screenagers

In the last month Education Minister Hekia Parata announced that the Government was looking at students being able to do their schooling entirely online. The internet affords our students huge opportunities but we also have a responsibility to help our students become responsible digital citizens

In our school (BYOD) students have access to most of the internet but social media sites like Facebook have been blocked. I understand that this is primarily to stop it being a distraction to students while they are at school. Of course students with phones using 3G still access their Facebook account at school but most students have internet at home and access Facebook then.

My problem is a group of students I frequently find on the library computers when I am on duty and they are accessing Facebook through a proxy server (although quickly change screens if approached). I know these students don’t have phones and don’t have computers and wifi in their homes. So far I have let it slide, but I am uncomfortable with this situation and would like some resolution.

The reason I have not taken action is because it is lunchtime as opposed to being in class time, and mostly because the students don’t have the same access to the internet outside of school hours. Also I realise that Facebook is not pornography but a social media site.

The reason I do need to take action is because it is against school rules to access blocked sites on school computers and as a teacher I need to stand by those rules. If I am making exceptions, my relationship with students and other staff will be compromised. Other students will see it as unfairness that I am not following school rules. Also the students may be using Facebook in a way that is not responsible and either have negative consequences themselves or end up hurting others.

What could I do?

The codes that I need to consider as an educator would be the NZ Code of Ethics for Certified Teachers which states that

“The professional interactions of teachers are governed by four fundamental principles:

Autonomy to treat people with rights that are to be honoured and defended. Justice to share power and prevent the abuse of power. Responsible care to do good and minimise harm to others. Truth to be honest with others and self."

I could also consider the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility for Educators which states that “Teachers must respect and uphold the dignity and worth of students as individual human beings, and, therefore, deal justly and considerately with students”

Up to this point I have had a short conversation with the students reinforcing that they should be responsible digital citizens and not go on proxy servers.

I think first off I should have a conversation with the librarian as these students are frequently on the library computers. In future I would also tell the students that I am making a behaviour note to their Dean so that they know there is a consequence and hopefully deter them from this action. The school policy for continued defiance would be to remove their internet access but this would seriously hamper their classroom learning.

I could also ask myself “What would happen if everyone did this?” If this school rule is disregarded by students and teachers then other school rules would also be disregarded and school would no longer be an emotionally and physically safe and healthy learning environment for all students.

Inequity is probably the bigger issue so a more positive outcome would actually be to help these students have their own devices where they could access social media at home.  The problem would be that they still shouldn’t access Facebook in school time and probably can’t afford 3G on a device. It would be best for me to talk to their house Dean’s and discuss their family situations to see if there are ways we can help.

In this ethical situation general rules of conduct and consistency across the school are important principles, but also to consider solving deeper issues of inequity would be best practice.

References

Connecticut’s Teacher Education and Mentoring Program. (2012). Ethical and Professional Dilemmas for Educators: Facilitator’s Guide.

Education Council. (n.d). The Education Council Code of Ethics for Certficated Teachers. 

Hall, A. (2001). What ought I to do, all things considered? An approach to the exploration of ethical problems by teachers. Paper presented at the IIPE Conference, Brisbane.