Noelle Iglesias
Artifact 6(A)
A Picture is Worth …
Will Rock is a 32 years old vocational education teacher. He discovered
pornographic pictures through electronic communication and downloaded them into a computer he brought home from school. Then, he took the computer back to school where he began showing the pictures to the boys in his classes. Over the semester , he taught from lesson plans less and less and showed more and more pictures . Eventually, a parent overheard her child complaining to a friend that they were not learning anything in this teacher's class. All they did was look at “dirty pictures .” The parent called the principal. The principal went to the classroom after hours, found some suspicious materials on the computer, and then asked the technology teacher, who knew a lot more about computers, to assist her. The “ expert ” found several computer files of pictures of homosexual and bestiality activities both on the computer and on disks. The principal took the computer and disks and called the police. The police took the computer and disks. The next morning the principal met the teacher in the parking lot and sent him home. The police arrested him that day at home and charged him with two counts of exhibition of obscene material to minors. He resigned his position with the school board and pleaded nolo contendere to the charges. The court system withheld adjudication ; placed him on three years probation; stipulated that he undergo a psychological evaluation and receive counseling, if needed, and that he perform 100 hours of community service; and pay $256.00 in court costs.
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed against him with the Department of Education. In the Professional Practices Services investigation, eight students from Various class periods reported that they had viewed the pictures on the teacher's computer during class and during lunch periods.
Just Cause For Dismissal From Employment
5. CONVICTION OF A CRIME INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE
6. IMMORALITY
3. COMMITTED AN ACT OF MORALTURPITUDE
4. GUILTY OF GROSS IMMORALITY
6. CONVICTION OF A MISDEMEANOR, FELONY, OR ANY OTHER CRIMINAL
CHARGE OTHER THAN A MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION
7. GUILTY OF PERSONAL CONDUCT WHICH SERIOUSLY REDUCES
EFFECTIVENESS AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
Predicted Outcome:
The teacher will have his teaching certificate permanently revoked, due to the fact that he pleaded no contest to two charges of exhibition of obscene material to minors. The teacher can easily be charged with the obvious actions (e.g. child abuse/molestation). The teacher can also be charged with a crime of moral turpitude or gross immorality.
The Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida obligate you to perform to standards of behavior dealing with STUDENTS, the PUBLIC, and the PROFESSION.
B. Record Keeping and Accounting Procedures
1. Know the laws, school board policies, and school rules and follow them. Know your rights .
C. Reputation in the Community
4. Use common sense and good judgment. Ask yourself how someone else could
perceive your comments or actions. Ask yourself if your comments or actions
could be
taken out of context and/or misinterpreted.
5. Avoid putting yourself in a position where you have to defend, explain, or justify your behavior or actions. Avoid putting yourself in a position where it's your word against another person's word.
CODE OF ETHICS - EDUCATION PROFESSION
6B-1.001 Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida .
(2) The educator's primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student's potential. The educator will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.
(3) Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of one's colleagues, of students, of parents, and of other members of the community, the educator strives to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.
6B-1.006 Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida .
(g) Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
(h) Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
(m) Shall self-report within forty-eight (48) hours to appropriate authorities (as determined by district) any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child or the sale and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition, shall self-report any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty or Nolo Contendre for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within forty-eight (48) hours after the final judgment. When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of Sections 943.0585(4)(c) and 943.059(4)(c), Florida Statutes.
(n) Shall report to appropriate authorities any known allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education Rules as defined in Section 1012.795(1), Florida Statutes.