Teaching – Code of professional conduct

In developing the new code, the government examined codes and standards in other parts of Canada. As a result, the new code contains new provisions that emphasize the importance of student safety and well-being.

• The following provision is similar to wording in Ontario’s Professional Misconduct Regulation:
  • The teacher or teacher leader is required not to:
    • intentionally harm a student verbally, psychologically or emotionally
    • harm a student physically or sexually
• The following provision is similar to standards and regulations in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan:
  • The teacher or teacher leader is required not to:
    • intentionally engage in an illegal activity that may cause a student to be put at or to remain at risk of harm
    • knowingly encourage or enable a student to engage in illegal activity or other activities that may cause a student to be put at or to remain at risk of harm
• The following provision is similar to requirements in British Columbia:
  • The teacher or teacher leader is required, in addition to other legislated reporting requirements, to report to the Commissioner, the conduct of another teacher or teacher leader who is alleged to cause or have caused physical, psychological, emotional or sexual harm or abuse to a student.

The following provision is similar to what appears in the code of ethics established by the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation:

• The teacher or teacher leader may not teach or lead in a manner that exploits their relationship with students, while in a position of authority, for ideological, material, or other advantage.

“Ideological advantage” means perspectives taught to students in a biased manner with the intent to take advantage of a student’s uninformed or under-informed opinions, but does not include programs of study established under the act.

Two other provisions require teachers to demonstrate respect in a learning environment where students feel welcome, and to respect their basic rights and freedoms. For example, teachers are aware it’s not acceptable to discriminate against students based on their race, religious beliefs, ability and other traits. In fact, this is covered in the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s code of conduct. However, the wording in the new code refers specifically to the rights and freedoms that are enshrined in other legislation, such as the Alberta Human Rights Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• The teacher or teacher leader shall respect the dignity and rights of all students and persons without prejudice as to the prohibited grounds of discrimination set out in the Alberta Human Rights Act and with regard to rights as provided for in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and be considerate of the circumstances of students and persons.
• The teacher or teacher leader is required to demonstrate a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging, which students are entitled to under the Education Act.

To further ensure student safety, the new code of professional conduct requires teachers or teacher leaders to notify the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission if another teacher or teacher leader harms a student. Most teachers care deeply about their students and it’s rare for them to be endangered, but when issues do occur, it’s important to notify the authorities so the problem can be addressed.

Apart from this provision in the code, the Education Act ensures that other key players in the education system have a duty to report to police, including the registrar, the commissioner, superintendents, board chairs, operators of independent schools or early childhood services programs, the executive secretary of the ATA and the executive director of the College of Alberta School Superintendents.

• The teacher or teacher leader is required, in addition to other legislated reporting requirements, to report to the commissioner, the conduct of another teacher or teacher leader who is alleged to cause or have caused physical, psychological, emotional or sexual harm or abuse to a student.

As teachers know, it’s important to have courteous and considerate relationships with parents and guardians. The previous code of professional conduct in the Practice Review of Teachers and Teacher Leaders Regulation had a section about relationships with parents, which has been reworked for the new code.

Relationships with students’ families must be based on mutual respect, trust and, where necessary, confidentiality, because a healthy working relationship with a students’ family often contributes to the students’ learning and well-being.

Since teachers are in a unique position where they are responsible for people’s children each day, they are often aware of families’ personal details and circumstances, and they are trusted to exercise a high level of discretion to help families maintain their privacy.

Additionally, it’s also reasonable to expect that teachers won’t disparage or denigrate parents.

The new code requires teachers and teacher leaders to:

• respect parents and be considerate of their circumstances
• treat information received from and about parents with discretion
• be respectful in communications with and about parents, and
• not discuss other students except where the matters being discussed are relevant to their child and then only to the extent that, in the teacher’s or teacher leader’s judgment, is necessary

In most cases, under both of the previous codes of conduct, a teacher or teacher leader had to first advise their colleague if they wished to raise concerns about that colleague’s professional conduct. This may actually discourage people from raising legitimate concerns because it could lead to a confrontation.

The new code of conduct allows teachers and teacher leaders, if they wish, to raise their concerns with a supervisor or other appropriate official without having to notify the other teacher first.