Case
Cooperating teacher invites student teacher to have a beer after school

A divorced, 43 year-old male 4th grade teacher is assigned a student teacher from the local university. She is 22, pretty, and has an engaging personality. At the end of the first week of the student teaching experience, the cooperating teacher invites the student teacher to have a beer after school to celebrate a successful first week. She declines his offer. At the end of the second week of her student teaching, the cooperating teacher invites her out to dinner so that they can discuss lesson plans for the following week. She again declines his invitation. She then rushes to the university and tells the student teaching coordinator that she will not return to his classroom as she is being sexually harassed. She states that she is contemplating filing charges against the teacher. Is there merit to the student teacher's allegations? What are the legal and ethical considerations of this situation? How should the university and the elementary school principal deal with this issue?

Posted on: 09/09/14 | Views: 1369
Solution #1
I agree that the situation is not the most appropriate, but I do not think he is breaking any laws. Due to the fact that she is a legal adult, I think he legally has the right to invite her out in a social way. However, I do feel that this situation is highly inappropriate given that they are in a work setting, he asked her out for an alcoholic beverage, and he asked her again after she declined the first invitation. If the student teacher has expressed to the cooperating teacher that she does not want to socialize with him outside of the classroom, then he should respect her wishes. If I were her, I would speak to my university's site coordinator about changing my assignment. The cooperating teacher did not make any sexual advances at her, but I do not think that she should be forced to feel uncomfortable with her cooperating teacher's invitations. From there, I feel that it is the university's site coordinator's place to contact the elementary school and explain why the student teacher has requested to be removed from that placement in order to prevent it from happening again. I do not think this situation constitutes any charges being filed, but I do think that the student teacher has the right to request a new placement.
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Solution #2
While the student teacher has every right to feel uncomfortable about the situation, I do not believe that she has merit to file a sexual harassment claim against the teacher. While it is inappropriate of him to invite her out in such a way due to their professional relationship, I do not believe that he crossed the line into harassment. If this student teacher is really bothered by her CT's actions, she should speak with her university supervisor about receiving a new placement.
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Solution #3
This situation should be treated with discretion. Is the cooperating teacher being flirtatious during the student teachers day, or has this been two incidents of "out of the blue" invitations. If the student teacher feels threatened then she should not be required to go back, but some discretion should be used.
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