Improper Personal or Financial Gain

[disney junky]

This is something I've always wondered about. The PA code states:
The professional educator may not:
1. Accept gratuities, gifts or favors that might impair or appear to impair professional judgment.
2. Exploit a professional relationship for personal gain or advantage.

Yet I know many of my middle and elementary school peers get gift cards, tickets, gifts, and sundry other items around the holidays.

Isn't this a direct violation of the school code.

And I'm just asking.

Last year, an administrator got a "good deal" on a lawnmower through another administrator's friendship with a student's parent. This is a student who is in a lot of trouble, constantly, yet he seems to get a pass more so than other students in trouble (we never know the whole story).

Is this a violation?

When Lifetouch, who does all of our photography, has their spring golf outing, the administrators get to play while the teachers, who are responsible for getting all the kids photographed and all of the photographs distributed get, well, get to make sure all the kids are photographed and all the photographs distributed.

Is this a violation?

Just asking.

The textbook companies......

 

[tasha99]

I don't know about your other examples, but I think the first is not a violation. Not many people would let their professional judgment be swayed over a scented candle or a $5 Starbucks card.

 

[disney junky]

I don't know about your other examples, but I think the first is not a violation. Not many people would let their professional judgment be swayed over a scented candle or a $5 Starbucks card.

How about professional football tickets?

 

[scrapquitler]

I would assume that either the school board and/or the teacher's union would have a policy about this sort of thing.

 

[disney junky]

I would assume that either the school board and/or the teacher's union would have a policy about this sort of thing.

The Pennsylvania School Code of Ethics is the code. There is not a written policy. By the way, we are a Pepsi school, so we sell kids Pepsi products.

 

[dakcp2001]

I am thinking you might be targeting someone specific. Did someone cross your path? Seems like a petty thing to me, most teachers get little gifts from students, and it would be harder or rude to refuse. Plus teachers spend so much of their own money on school supplies etc,the least we coyuld do is send in a little holiday acknowledgement that we appreciate them.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think there's a line between what's reasonable and what goes into unreasonable. Where I live, I don't think it's an issue so much. But a relative in my husband's family works in a wealthy district and teachers will see a boatload of cash or gifts at Christmas or end of year (she averaged $200-300 a student one year!). That's kind of on the other extreme.

 

[disney junky]

I think there's a line between what's reasonable and what goes into unreasonable. Where I live, I don't think it's an issue so much. But a relative in my husband's family works in a wealthy district and teachers will see a boatload of cash or gifts at Christmas or end of year (she averaged $200-300 a student one year!). That's kind of on the other extreme.

Exactly. A nearby district, Hershey, the kids parents seem to try to outdo each other with gifts for the teachers. It's expected.

Am I targeting. Not really. When people begin the holiday posting for what to give the teacher, I am always curious what other opinions there are. To me it's an obvious conflict, but then again, I sent gifts for my kids' teachers. I also get eggplant Parmesan from a mom and I've never ever eaten it.....

 

[We_Love_Disney]

The professional educator may not:
1. Accept gratuities, gifts or favors that might impair or appear to impair professional judgment.
2. Exploit a professional relationship for personal gain or advantage.

Key factors are impair or appear to impair exploit what may seem to impair or exploit to one, may not seem that way to another. Usually the one receiving the gift/favor/gratuities say it has no influence . It is a tough one to call given the personal perception of the matter.

Our school district has a no gift policy, which I accept and support. Kids are allowed to make cards for the teachers, but no bought gifts. Any parent that breaks the rules is told in a nice but firm letter, and the gift is then donated to a charity or raffled off.

Gift giving is so out of control. Sure, I think it is nice to acknowledge a job well done, but is a gift really going to convey that? The pressure to give/get is further instilled at schools, more keeping up with the others, comparing what one gave, etc. Christmas isn't about getting gifts, it is celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The administration partaking in the golfing outing, yeah, I think that crosses the line. Considering Lifetouch does only an adequate job, and it is hardly the cheapest. I wonder if the job is put out to bid each year?

 

[Disneychix]

I don't believe your first scenerio fits at all. Hopefully the teachers are professional!

I don't really think your second scenerio fits either as you don't know the whole story. You don't even know the exact figures of the "good deal".

And your third scenerio doesn't quite seem to fit either as you don't know that a teacher has ever asked to play and been denied or that the contract through LifeTouch depends on the Admins getting to play in this tourny. I would think that Admins are more like the business heads of the school and in business this happens all the time.

 

[disney junky]

I don't really think your second scenerio fits either as you don't know the whole story. You don't even know the exact figures of the "good deal".

I do know one order got canceled and another got placed. But you are right, I don't know the whole story or exact figures.

 

[EMom]

A few years ago, our district had to put a $50 limit (per event....Christmas, birthday, end of school) on gifts for teachers. It had gotten out of hand. I'd say $25-30 gift cards are common here now, but at the time the rule went in to effect, the ante had been upped to $100+. Made me wish I was still teaching.

Last year, the teachers got so many gift cards that we made a gift card tree for each of the 3 teachers. I don't think it makes anyone play favorites here, because they get so many cards.......