Ethical Dilemma The District Superintendent is Sexually Harassing a Female Teacher on school grounds.

Texas Code of Ethics/Teacher Standards  Sexual Harassment training for teachers/staff and administrators.  Code FFH: Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation; TASB policy

Ethically Relevant Issue Sexual Harassment between an administrator and a teacher.

Persons that need to be considered  Teachers  Administrators

Additional Information  Be fully informed  Know your rights as an employed person, teacher code of ethics.

Actions or Alternatives  Report to principal  Go to the police for further investigation  Do nothing  Change districts

Short Term Consequences  May not be able to do anything about it  No evidence

On-Going Consequences  Harassment continues  Harassment might get worse  Other employees might also be harassed

Long-Term Consequences  Loss of job of both parties

Psychological Costs  Emotional Distress

Social Costs  Gossiping  Isolation

Economic Costs  None  Lawyer/Court fees

Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (1986)  Vinson brought suit against the bank, arguing that, during the four years she had been employed at the bank, she had been subjected to repeated sexual harassment by Taylor.  Her case was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held that a claim of hostile environment sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is actionable under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Harris v. Forklift Systems (1993)  Throughout Harris’s employment at Forklift, Hardy, the Forklift’s President, repeatedly insulted Harris because of her gender and subjected her to sexual innuendos.  The court did not find that his actions were so severe that they could be expected to affect Harris’s psychological well-being or her work performance.

Decision Tree Teacher was sexually Harassed Go to the Policelook into it he can be found guilty or they can find nothing Report to principal have a private talk with teacher or give advice inform teacher when he is going to be on campus talk to superinendent Do nothingit can continueget worseChange Districtsfeel safer

Contact the principal  In the Texas code of ethics it states that teachers are not to harass another teacher, student, parent, volunteer, anyone involved with the school. - A teacher harassed should contact the school principal, if that does not work contact the superintendent. If the superintendent is the harasser then contact the school board directly.

Commitment statement The teacher should keep their promise of confidentiality, and reporting if it happens again.

Negative Consequences  Rumors  loss of job  loss of credibility Proof will be needed in court to fix the negative consequences.

Rumors  The teacher should ignore the rumors - she knows what happened, trying to make them stop could cause more problems. - If they get out of control talk to the principal and have him solve the problem.

Loss of Job  The teacher may lose her job and if this happens she can sue the school. - There is no probable cause to fire the teacher over being a sexual harassment victim.  The next time the school administrator comes to the school ask the principal to watch and be a witness.

Loss of Credibility  The loss of credibility because she can not prove it happened and no one believes her. - The only thing that could fix this would be proof of the administer harassing her. - Have the principal watch, if nothing else works wear a recorder and record the incident