standard 3.8

1. STANDARD 3.8
TEACHER-STUDENT BOUNDARIES

2. What is standard 3.8?
The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student
relationships and boundaries based on reasonably prudent educator
standard.
What does that mean?
It means keeping a line between you and your students
and not crossing that line for any reason.

3. WHAT IS A BOUNDARY?
THE LINE BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT THAT IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN A
RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP

4. • Relationship –
• Financial –
• Communication –
• Temporal – Spending extra time with one student
Types of Boundaries
Getting involved in intimate/romantic relationships with
students
Loaning money or giving gifts
Talks about personal subjects with students

5. Relationship Boundaries
 Relationship boundaries seem to be the prevalent
issue in the media today.
 Reports are increasing not only within Texas but also
nationwide. No one is sure if incidents are actually
increasing or if today’s students are simply more
willing to make a report of it occurring (Weiss, 2015).
 For whatever reason teachers seem to be tolerant of
crossing the line into an intimate relationship with a
student.
 The most disturbing reality is that during a study done
with current educators “some to the participants had
knowledge of this type of boundary violation
occurring in their school or school system” (Aultman,
2009).
Has anyone been aware or suspect a
relationship boundary in your
school?

6. Financial Boundaries
 Financial boundary is not a boundary many even
realize exist.
 Giving a student gift because you like the student is
not something that is eagerly reported.
 Furthermore, financial boundaries can pertain to
spending your personal funds for the benefit of your
students.
Talk about a time when you may have spent your money for the benefit or your students?

7. Communication Boundaries
 Most of the issues with communication boundaries
seem to center on self-disclosure (Aultman, 2009).
 Self-disclosure is the process of communication by
which one person reveals information about
himself or herself to another (Wikipedia).
 Most teachers reveal basic information about their
families however there is a definite line not to be
crossed.
 You should not share personal information with
your students. You are there to listen to them not
confide in them.
 In return teachers should not permit students to
disclose personal information about their private
lives.
Talk about a time when you feel that a teacher or student crossed
the communication boundary and shared private information.

8. Temporal Boundaries
 Temporal boundaries can be complicated when
taking into count all of the other students in the
class. When you have 20 – 30 kids in your class you
it is hard to make sure all of the children receive
your attention.
 This is made even harder when you have one or
two students who need extra help. Combine this
with the requirements of teaching students needed
information for tests it makes time an even
touchier, complex subject.
 Furthermore temporal boundaries could mean
spending time with a student because you favor
that student over others.
Talk about time when you have may
have spent more time with one
particular student.

9. Boundary Rules/Guidelines

10. Boundary Rules/Guidelines
No touching students
No gift giving
No closed door counseling.
All interactions outside of school
should be in the public eye in view
of spectators.
You are there to listen to the
students not confide in them.
No verbal sexual harassment.
No transportation for non-school events
unless you have parental consent.

11. Boundary Violation Consequences
• A relationship boundary violation leads to the highest punishment.
• A handbook for Hudson ISD states, “An employee shall not form romantic or other
inappropriate social relationships with students. Any sexual relationship between a student
and a District employee is always prohibited, even if consensual” (Hudson ISD Employee
Handbook, 2015).
• Of the many school handbooks that I have reviewed nothing was found about crossing the
other three boundaries. However, that in no way means that you will not be reprimanded for
the violation of these boundaries.
What do you do if you suspect an employee is having a
sexual relationship with a student?
Report it do your principal or other appropriate district official.

12. Scenario 1
Mr. Mickelson, the English teacher at Kir ISD High School, has recently started
spending a lot of time with Krissy, one of his 10th grade students. They hang out
and are seen together talking between classes. During class trips they sit together
and are heard sharing personal information. One day another student witnesses
Mr. Mickelson give Krissy a collection of poems by her favorite poet.
Inappropriate or appropriate? Why?

13. Scenario 2
Mrs. Forbes, the 7th grade history teacher at Kir ISD Middle School, needed to have
a talk with Klaus about the project he was currently working on. Mrs. Forbes’s
door remained open during the entire discussion.
Inappropriate or appropriate? Why?

14. Scenario 3
Mrs. Gilbert has continuously gotten emotional involved with her students to
the point where they seem to intervene with her teaching. This school year she
has invested a lot of time into Damon, a student with an inconsistent home life.
On one occasion Mrs. Forbes requested the teacher’s aide take over the class so
she could escort Damon the school counselor’s office.
Inappropriate or appropriate? Why?

15. Scenario 4
Mr. Bennett believes that it is important to build a relationship with students.
Likewise he believes that allowing the students to know some information about you
is essential to building these relationships. One of Mr. Bennett’s favorite things to do
is infuse things about himself into the lesson.
Inappropriate or appropriate? Why?