Page 6 - Professional Advisory: Professional Boundaries – An Advisory for Ontario Certified Teachers

Boundaries Examples of boundary violations including but not limited to:
Relationship
• flirting or expressing romantic feelings towards students in any form
• engaging in a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a student
• meeting a student or students alone, outside of school, without
an educational context and/or the knowledge/approval of a supervisor and/or parents/guardians such as going for coffee to a social event or inviting them to a party
• using technology to start or perpetuate a relationship outside of the appropriate role, time, and place governing educa- tor-student interactions
Technology
• using social media to communicate inappropriately with students at any time
• using personal email, websites or social media or technology not authorized by the employer to communicate inappropriately with students
Financial
• singling out students by giving them money or gifts in a prefer- ential manner.
Educators hold authority and students trust their safety and welfare to them. Boundary violations occur when the imbalance of power tips toward serving the educator’s needs, not the student’s, and the student’s welfare is compromised.
Educators, too, can be vulnerable and susceptible to at-risk conduct. Difficulties in one’s personal life, a need for recognition, attention or admiration may be cause for inappropriate behaviour. Awareness of one’s motivation is key. OCTs should not seek emotional support or consolation from students, regardless of the difficulties they themselves may be facing professionally or personally. They need to be aware that their
own well-being has an influence on that of their students.
The onus is on the educator
The onus is always on the educator to set
and maintain boundaries – those that clearly separate professional conduct necessary to meet student needs and personal opinions, feelings and relationships that are not germane to helping students. Boundary violations create a dual relationship or role that is incompatible with a professional educator-student rela- tionship. For example, students may mistake an educator’s friendliness for friendship. Not only must educators not forget the distinction, but they have an ongoing duty to help students understand the difference.
4 PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY: PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES