Freedom of Expression, Copyright Law, and Professional Conduct

For this week’s discussion you will post to one of the threads below. Be cognizant of how many students have made an initial post to each given thread so that each thread has an equal distribution of participation.

Thread A: Freedom of Expression

After reading the course material on freedom of expression, use “A Case to Consider” in chapter 3 of Strike and Soltis (2009/2015), to respond to question 1 on page 48 in the text. Focus your discussion on consequentialism v. non-consequentialism.

Thread B: Copyright Law

After reading chapter 8 in Schimmel et al. (2015), discuss copyright law and fair use. Reflect upon your own uses as an educator. Have you crossed copyright law? Have you found ethical ways to use another’s work? How can technology assist educators or work against them when needing to use copyrighted material?

Thread C: Professional Conduct

After reading chapter 14 in Schimmel et al. (2015), discuss how teachers are to model behaviors to students. Include your thoughts on how students have learned inappropriate behaviors, and how you can influence more positive behaviors.

Support your statements with evidence from the required studies and your research. Cite and reference your sources in APA style.

References

Schimmel, D., Stellman, L., Conlon, C. K., & Fischer, L. (2015). Teachers and the law (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Strike, K. A., & Soltis, J. F. (2009/2015). The ethics of teaching (5th ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College.

Intellectual Freedom and Freedom of Expression

Previously, you learned that the courts have typically upheld Constitutional protections in school settings. However, freedom of expression is one area in which the courts have allowed some restrictions to stand. As an institution, public schools do have the authority to limit speech to some extent, when the purpose is to censure activities or speech disruptive to the educational process. This week’s readings and assignments will explore some variations on the question of free speech in order to analyze more clearly what is protected and to what extent it may be limited.

The role and appropriateness of electronic communications, especially between teachers and students, have become key issues in recent years. While easy communication between teacher and student via email, texting, and social media may help facilitate learning, whether by a spontaneous question or last-minute clarification on an assignment, electronic communications also can veil inappropriate relationships. This week consider different ways of managing the use of electronic communication.

Although the required material focuses on student expression, there are important limits to teacher expression, not only in the classroom, but generally, as an employee of the school. You will consider teacher expression in a cursory fashion but be sure to read the support materials for further information.

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Weekly Objectives

Through participation in the following activities, the candidate will:

• Review and discuss the levels of acting ethically: as individuals, within organizations and governments, and throughout the society. (9f, 9i, 9m, 10q)
  • Freedom of Expression, Copyright Law, and Professional Conduct
  • Electronic Communication
  • Benefits and Abuses of Freedom of Expression
• Study and analyze the latest research and professional literature related to law and ethics in educational practice. (9f, 9m, 9o)
  • Freedom of Expression and Copyright Law, and Professional Conduct
• Analyze current legal standards and their association with contemporary ethical practice. (9f, 9m, 9o)
  • Freedom of Expression, Copyright Law, and Professional Conduct
  • Electronic Communication

Textbook Reading

The Ethics of Teaching (Strike & Soltis, 2009/2015)

• Chapter 3: Intellectual Freedom

Teachers and the Law (Schimmel, Stellman, Conlon, & Fischer, 2015)

• Chapter 8: How Does Copyright Law Affect me?
• Chapter 9: When Can Schools Restrict Teachers’ Freedom of Expression?
• Chapter 10: When Can Schools Restrict Students’ Freedom of Expression?
• Chapter 12: When Can Schools Limit Freedom of Association?
• Chapter 14: How Free Is My Personal Life?