Unit 7: Professional Boundaries and Teacher–Student Relationships

Site:	Plateforme pédagogique de l'Université Sétif2
Cours:	Ethics and Deontology in University Context by Dr. Ikhlas Gherzouli
Livre:	Unit 7: Professional Boundaries and Teacher–Student Relationships

Imprimé par:	Visiteur anonyme
Date:	jeudi 18 décembre 2025, 23:20

Description

Unit 7 explores the ethical dimensions of teacher–student relationships, emphasizing the importance of maintaining appropriate professional boundaries in both face-to-face and digital contexts. It examines the role of care in education, while addressing the risks of overstepping ethical lines through social media, informal communication, or dual relationships. The unit also considers how cultural norms influence expectations and interactions between teachers and students. Through reflective discussion and practical examples, students will learn to build respectful, ethically sound relationships that support learning while protecting professional integrity.

Table des matières

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Professional Boundaries
3. Ethics of Care in Education
4. Digital Communication and Social Media Ethics
5. Cultural Considerations
6. Navigating Dual Relationships
7. Reflective Activity
8. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Professional boundaries are the invisible lines that define appropriate interactions between teachers and students. In the university context, maintaining respectful, ethical, and culturally aware relationships is essential for preserving the integrity of the educational environment. This unit explores how ethical standards guide educators in navigating personal, professional, and digital spaces with students.

2. Understanding Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries are ethical frameworks that prevent conflicts of interest, emotional entanglement, or inappropriate influence. Key features include:
·       Avoiding favoritism or discrimination.
·       Ensuring fairness and equity in treatment.
·       Maintaining professional distance to preserve objectivity.
·       Avoiding over-familiar behavior, especially outside academic contexts.
Boundaries are essential for:
·       Maintaining student trust.
·       Promoting a safe learning space.
·       Upholding institutional and ethical standards.

3. Ethics of Care in Education

Nel Noddings (2005) proposed the "ethics of care" as a relational approach to ethics that emphasizes empathy, responsiveness, and attentiveness in educational relationships. However, while care is essential, it must not blur professional lines.
Educators must:
·       Show care while remaining impartial.
·       Balance personal concern with professional responsibility.
·       Recognize the potential for ethical conflicts when emotional boundaries are crossed.

4. Digital Communication and Social Media Ethics

In an era where educators and students often interact online, clear digital boundaries are crucial. Risks include:
·       Misinterpretation of tone or intent in messages.
·       Breaching institutional communication protocols.
·       Inappropriate familiarity or access to personal content.
Best practices:
·       Use official channels (university email, LMS) for all academic communication.
·       Avoid accepting friend requests or following students on personal accounts.
·       Refrain from messaging students outside reasonable hours unless urgent.

5. Cultural Considerations

What is considered appropriate in one culture may be perceived differently in another. Cultural values influence perceptions of:
·       Physical proximity
·       Forms of address (titles, first names)
·       Informal interactions (e.g., coffee invitations)
Educators must be:
·       Sensitive to diverse cultural expectations.
·       Clear about behavioral norms in their classrooms.
·       Respectful of students’ comfort levels and boundaries.

6. Navigating Dual Relationships

A dual relationship occurs when a teacher assumes a second role with a student (e.g., mentor, friend, employer). These relationships can:
·       Create power imbalances.
·       Lead to perceived favoritism.
·       Compromise grading and objectivity.
To navigate them ethically:
·       Disclose potential conflicts of interest to supervisors.
·       Maintain transparency and document interactions.
·       Seek guidance from institutional codes of conduct or ethics boards.

7. Reflective Activity

Scenario: A student emails you late at night seeking emotional support about a personal crisis. You are concerned but unsure how to respond.
Questions to reflect on:
·       What are the ethical boundaries in this situation?
·       How can you show care without overstepping professional roles?
·       What institutional support services can you refer the student to?

8. Conclusion

This unit emphasizes the importance of maintaining ethical, respectful, and culturally sensitive relationships between teachers and students. Professional boundaries protect both parties and ensure a safe, supportive, and equitable learning environment. Ethical decision-making in this context requires reflection, cultural awareness, and adherence to institutional guidelines.