Teachers and Unsolicited Student Information
When Teachers Become Classroom Furniture and Overhear Gossip
There may be many times during a school day that teachers will become privy to unsolicited personal information divulged by students, usually in conversation with friends. This can happen in a study hall, homeroom, driving a school van, or standing by the classroom door during class changes. In many cases, students forget the presence of a teacher and the teacher becomes furniture, another fixture in the room. Unfortunately – or fortunately depending on the perspective, it puts teachers in a position to hear some of the deepest and often darkest secrets discussed by students.
How to Handle Unsolicited Student Information
Much of student banter involves the latest parties, complaints about other teachers, school issues like dress codes, and the daily gossip and rumors prevalent among adolescents. There are times, however, that information can imply critical problems or necessitate intervention.
Students discussing suicide, pregnancies, impending attempts to hurt other students or other disruptive behaviors must be addressed. On the low end of these considerations are shared tales of plagiarism and cheating; the top of the list of concerns involves abusive or destructive behaviors.
Although some “cool” teachers like to amass student information as a means of deepening relationships and being “in the know,” this kind of unprofessional behavior should be avoided. Holding information over the heads of students like blurting out, “Party at Steve’s house on Saturday!” lowers the professionalism of instructors and can damage respect.
Serious commentary among students involving allegations of misconduct, suicidal discussions, abusive and destructive behaviors, should be reported to the appropriate administrative and/or counseling departments. Only these school agencies can legally deal with the problems and alert the Department of Social Services.
Building Healthy Relationships with Students
As soon as a teacher hears students discussing something inappropriate to the school environment, the teacher should end the conversation and point out that such commentary is not welcome and could force an administrative response. If students present the teacher with stories that clearly go beyond normal teenage gossip, the teacher should advise the students that the information will have to be shared with appropriate school administrators.
This poses a very fine line. In today’s school climate, students with concerns about peers should be made to feel that they can be open, even with teachers that may happen to overhear. This includes bullying, intolerant activities perpetrated by students against other students, and potential suicidal tendencies.
Trusted and respected teachers are usually the ones students go to with serious concerns or problems. Developing healthy relationships with students based on mutual trust fosters the kind of communication most conducive to openness and clarity.
Drawing the Line between Students and Teachers
In all cases, student interaction must end at the schoolhouse door. Social networking, whether in person or on-line, is not professional and should be deemed unacceptable. In the 1984 movie Teachers, Nick Nolte drives a student to a clinic in order to obtain an abortion. Although he wasn’t the father, his actions led to an inquiry that almost cost him his job. In today’s climate, that kind of action would cause termination of employment.
Teachers must always maintain the professional line that separates them from the non-school lives of students. This begins in the classroom or in school halls, when teachers become furniture. It should also be noted that no legal provisions protect conversations between teachers and students, even if damaging information is unsolicited but heard by a teacher. There is no such thing as teacher-student privilege within the legal system. Teachers can be prosecuted for failing to disclose information that may have prevented a felony.
Overhearing School Gossip in the Halls
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