Recorded Webinar: Crossing the Line: Where do the Professional Boundaries of Teachers Start and End?

The relationships between the school, its teachers and their students are challenging and the boundaries between professional and private lives and activities are becoming blurred. This is particularly so with the advent of social media, increasing activism and the extension of schooling beyond the limits of the physical classroom. This session will examine legal issues in managing teacher conduct and what policies schools need to have in place, including:

• What rights do teachers have to a life away from their profession and how far do any constraints extend?
• What teacher conduct will cross the line? Cases and examples
• Has online learning impacted the extent of the teacher/student relationship?
• Should teachers be precluded from being in contact with students on social media platforms?
• How far can a school limit teacher activism or opinions with which it disagrees?
• Can schools contractually control teacher behaviour outside the school environment? How far can a contract go?
• Disciplinary and other options for staff management
• Tips for drafting effective policies and Codes of Conduct for staff behaviour
• A discussion of relevant legislation and cases, including Kidd v JCU