TQ# 10 – Ethical Issues for the Tech Director

I read several of the scenarios presented in the Class 10 documents section this week. Several of them presented some rather knotty issues. As someone has mentioned, sometimes there just are no easy answers no matter where you look. I chose the scenario concerning the tech director who finds the sexually explicit emails written to students (“a bad situation gets worse”).

Obviously in any situation like this, one has to be sure of one’s facts—i.e., is there sufficient evidence that something very wrong is going on? I think that there is no question that is the case here. I am not an attorney or specialist in child care issues, but it is obvious that writing sexually explicit letters to a minor is a very serious charge for which an educator should be fired and forbidden to work in child care or education again. Certainly, actual physical contact would be such grounds as well. The fact that this involves a minor makes me want to say that, regardless of the consequences, something has to be done no matter how long it takes or what pain is involved for me or others.

It is pretty clear from the scenario laid out here that the ‘powers that be’ in this district, by way of a history of coercion and subtle messages, have secured a protective wall around their illicit actions and the illicit actions of others. Several people in the district obviously know what is going on, but due to these “structures” that have been setup are afraid to do anything or find it to be too much work and stress. The second teacher mentioned in the scenario appears not to have been fired but left voluntarily, and still is involved with extracurricular activities. The principal, very obviously, appears to be involved in the cover-up. I would think the superintendent either knows about what is going on or is incredibly irresponsible, for he/she does not want to follow-up (or else left it to the principal to do so, but it is hard to imagine this is the first time he/she is hearing about such allegations).

Despite the fact that it could get very uncomfortable and my job as tech director may be at an end in this district (since I would either be fired or would find myself completely incapable of functioning here), I completely agree with the tech director in the scenario that I have a moral and legal obligation to pursue this, with the intent of putting an end to these kinds of illicit affairs as common practice here. Nothing else really matters at this point. (Besides, I could find myself legally at risk for not saying anything about this.) It was appropriate for the tech director to go to the superintendent first. Since not much help was forthcoming there, I would probably try feeling out some other administrators with greater tenure (and not teachers) in the district to see if I might start making a friend or two in this corrupt district. Perhaps others have felt bad about this situation also and were looking for some backup, as am I. If this tact did not work, I would next see if the district had a person in a legal capacity. If not, I would then seek advice from an attorney outside the district. Since I am not a lawyer, I cannot say what all can be done. I would maintain my day-to-day activities and share nothing with others during this process. Hopefully, through such intervention, I could find some workable options.