Texas’s State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) has an Educators’ Code of Ethics with enforceable standards for educators in the line of duty, which are categorized into professional ethical conduct, practices, and performance toward colleagues and students. Over the years, there have been reports about teachers breaking the Code of Ethic, particularly when it comes to having inappropriate relationships with students. In this regard, the Code of Ethics holds that an educator ought not to solicit or engage in sexual conduct or a romantic relationship with a minor or student. It also emphasises the need for teachers to maintain professional relationships and boundaries with learners on the basis of reasonably prudent educator standard (State Board for Educator Certification). Teachers usually break this standard on the presumption that few violation cases end up in courts. There have been communication changes in the recent past with technology playing a key role. This has also allowed teacher-student communication that has led to inappropriate relationships.
The Texas Education Agency has not changed the Code of Ethics in regards to teachers having inappropriate relationships with students. The ethical behavior of instructors is emphasised even at the national level. Changing or not having the Code of Ethics altogether would allow educators’ immoral behaviour, which would interfere with the profession in entirety. This is not the overall objective of the education profession. Essentially, the creation of Texas Education Agency’s Code of Ethics was aimed at controlling teachers rather than protecting the integrity of students because it primarily targets teachers stating what they ought to do and not do. It hardly targets students by outlining ethical behaviour towards their teachers hence they are not hold them responsible for such behavior.
Work Cited
State Board for Educator Certification. “Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators.” Texas Administrative Code, texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2.