TPE 12: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Obligations

In order to have a truly democratic classroom, the learning must be safe from any type of biases or prejudices, especially on the teachers behalf. The students must maintain the safe space by acknowledging that hateful speech or acts will not be tolerated. It is also of the upmost importance that the student's parents are cognizant of the expectations, and that they are in agreement with the expecations in order to hold their child accountable for their words and actions.

In my own classroom, I send home a course syllubus to parents to sign, which contains the grading policy as well as expectations around behavior. The student, parent, and Counselor-teacher-mentor of the student must sign it in order to ensure that all are aware of the expectations of classroom conduct. It is my job to protect and maintain a healthy learning environment for all students, to ensure their success in the class, and also to prevent interpersonal harrassment amongst students. Since they are inhabiting a professional space, it is imperative that the young scholars learn what terms of respect are now so that they can be prepared for functioning as a young adult in the real world, where there are serious consequences for hostile speech and actions. Attached is a copy of the syllabus for my Raza Studies course.