Page 4 - Professional Advisory: Professional Boundaries – An Advisory for Ontario Certified Teachers

grey areas exist. The guidance and examples provided in this advisory are not an exhaustive list of unacceptable behaviours. OCTs should never assume that conduct that is not specif- ically prohibited is acceptable. They should consult their employer policies, protocols and Ministry of Education resources.
Boundaries define professionalism
Every day, professional educators promote positive relationships and interactions with everyone in the school community. It is critical to understand that their professional judgment can be affected when the line between their personal and professional rela- tionships is blurred.
This is intended as practical advice. It appre- ciates that teaching is complex, occurs in full view and public scrutiny and that aspirational ethics are supported by the structure of legislative, legal and employer direction.
This document should be read in conjunction with College advice on the use of electronic communication and social media, the duty to report child neglect and abuse, and profes- sional misconduct of a sexual nature. It will be updated periodically to reflect changes in policy, legislation and case law.
OCTs are professionals who seek to embody the profession’s ethical standards of care, respect, trust and integrity. This advisory applies to all members of the profession, including teachers, consultants, vice- principals, principals, supervisory officers, directors of education, those working
in non-school board positions, College members in private and independent schools, and those in positions requiring a certificate of qualification.
Defining boundaries
The College subscribes to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification1 , a respected clearing house for disciplinary decisions affecting educators. NASDTEC defines “boundaries” as “the verbal, physical, emotional and social distances that an educator must maintain in order to ensure structure, security, and predictability in
an educational environment. Most often,
the boundaries that are transgressed
relate to role, time and place. By respecting contracted roles, appropriate working hours, and the location of the learning environment, secure boundaries are in place for all members of the schooling community.”
1 National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification [NASDTEC] — “Model Code of Ethics for Educators” [2015]
2 PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY: PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES