Project 700.

1 – The Teacher: Responding to Ethical Dilemmas

The ethical dilemma presented in this scenario is that—according to Standards B 3.2, F

3.6, H 3.8, and I 3.9 as defined by the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics—Coach Parnell is

engaging in inappropriate behavior with a student. Coach Parnell is in violation of Standard B

3.2, even though the student was never in her class or on one of her sports teams, because

inappropriate relationships with any teacher blur the lines of what is acceptable student/teacher

interactions. She can be found in violation of Standard F 3.6 by setting a date with the student

since, even though she was not having a romantic relationship with the student while he was

enrolled at the school, she still made plans to have a date with him once he had graduated. Her

actions are in violation of Standard H 3.8 since this relationship and communication between the

two parties is not maintain an appropriate, professional educator-student relationship. Lastly,

Parnell is in violation of Standard I 3.9, as the communication between her and the student on the

dating app is considered to be inappropriate communication with a student or minor. In order to

have avoided these violations of the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics, Parnell should have

simply deleted the message from the student immediately and not gotten involved in any sort of

inappropriate relationship with him, while he was a student or afterwards.

The ethical dilemma presented in this scenario is that Mr. Shanfeld is using his position

as the tour guide for the Washington DC trip to help a student who missed the application

deadline gain a spot to attend the trip in exchange for lawn services from the student’s family.

This is in violation of Standard E 1.5 of the Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics since Shanfeld is

accepting a gift/favor that impairs his professional judgement, in regard to allowing the student a

spot on the trip even though they missed the deadline for the application. Instead of allowing the
student a spot on the trip in exchange for these free lawn services, Shanfeld should have told the

student that he was sorry they were not able to attend the trip due to financial issues, but they

should have applied for a PTA scholarship before the deadline was up, or if he was intent on

helping the student find a way to attend the trip, helped them find scholarships and resources to

help pay their fees for the trip.

The ethical dilemma in this scenario is that Coach Mitchell