Southaven, MS -
FAST FACTS:
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Southaven, MS 11/25/2009) A newly-adopted policy by the DeSoto County School Board, aims to prevent improper contact between teachers and students.
It comes in the wake of the arrest of teacher Tyler Bigham of DeSoto Central High and substitute Joey Johnson from Lake Cormorant High, on sexual battery charges involving their students.
The new policy mandates "professional distance" between students and teachers. It also prohibits negative comments about fellow co-workers.
Southaven resident Suzanne Cole worries teachers and their students seem to be getting a little to "chummy" lately.
She says the arrest in just one week's time of teacher Tyler Bigham, and substitute Joey Johnson seems to prove her point.
Cole points out teachers and students seem to share way too much personal information over internet sites like " Facebook" and " MySpace". "They should be teaching the children, not being able to communicate with them through facebook or texting or anything like that." she explained.
DeSoto School leaders seem to agree, as they adopted a policy that prohibits such communication for anything other than school matters.
But some parents worry it goes too far. "I understand why they're doing it, but I just don't agree with it." said Heather Mendez of Horn Lake, who worries the policy may hurt her handful of school age children.
"They look toward their teachers for guidance and stuff like that so I really don't agree with it." she said.
Mendez also has concerns about a policy that would limit the kinds of things school employees can say and publish about their co-workers.
The Superintendent admits enforcement of these new policies will have to be on the "honor system". But he expects the same ease of communication that created this situation in the first place will help make it easier to keep tabs on employees who might violate the policy.
He says the concept isn't new. "It's basically doing the same thing we've always done with the unwritten rule that teachers shouldn't go to the beauty parlor and bad mouth the other teachers at school or the principal." said DeSoto School Superintendent Milton Kuykendall.
He stresses the student policy promotes professionalism. "We have to be the teacher and the kids have to be the students and we have to maintain that student-teacher relationship." said Kuykendall
Suzanne Cole thinks that will help. "I think it's a big problem. I'm glad they're doing something about it, I sure am." she said.
Normally, policies such as this go into effect upon a second reading at the next school board meeting. Board members thought this matter so urgent, they waived that second reading in order for the policy to take effect immediately. Teachers will get written notice on Monday morning.
- Policy prohibits posting of negative comments about co-workers on internet
- Prohibits non school-related contact between teachers and students
- Parents applaud policy, some worry it goes too far
dennis.turner@wreg.com
(Southaven, MS 11/25/2009) A newly-adopted policy by the DeSoto County School Board, aims to prevent improper contact between teachers and students.
It comes in the wake of the arrest of teacher Tyler Bigham of DeSoto Central High and substitute Joey Johnson from Lake Cormorant High, on sexual battery charges involving their students.
The new policy mandates "professional distance" between students and teachers. It also prohibits negative comments about fellow co-workers.
Southaven resident Suzanne Cole worries teachers and their students seem to be getting a little to "chummy" lately.
She says the arrest in just one week's time of teacher Tyler Bigham, and substitute Joey Johnson seems to prove her point.
Cole points out teachers and students seem to share way too much personal information over internet sites like " Facebook" and " MySpace". "They should be teaching the children, not being able to communicate with them through facebook or texting or anything like that." she explained.
DeSoto School leaders seem to agree, as they adopted a policy that prohibits such communication for anything other than school matters.
But some parents worry it goes too far. "I understand why they're doing it, but I just don't agree with it." said Heather Mendez of Horn Lake, who worries the policy may hurt her handful of school age children.
"They look toward their teachers for guidance and stuff like that so I really don't agree with it." she said.
Mendez also has concerns about a policy that would limit the kinds of things school employees can say and publish about their co-workers.
The Superintendent admits enforcement of these new policies will have to be on the "honor system". But he expects the same ease of communication that created this situation in the first place will help make it easier to keep tabs on employees who might violate the policy.
He says the concept isn't new. "It's basically doing the same thing we've always done with the unwritten rule that teachers shouldn't go to the beauty parlor and bad mouth the other teachers at school or the principal." said DeSoto School Superintendent Milton Kuykendall.
He stresses the student policy promotes professionalism. "We have to be the teacher and the kids have to be the students and we have to maintain that student-teacher relationship." said Kuykendall
Suzanne Cole thinks that will help. "I think it's a big problem. I'm glad they're doing something about it, I sure am." she said.
Normally, policies such as this go into effect upon a second reading at the next school board meeting. Board members thought this matter so urgent, they waived that second reading in order for the policy to take effect immediately. Teachers will get written notice on Monday morning.
