Introduction to Education Homework # 3

  Not in anyway giving anyone permission to plagiarize or copy this and also not verifying the authenticity of any of the information. Also note that there are probably no sources listed and I am not one myself, so don't quote me. This is just some of my homework; thought it might be interesting to someone:

Read Case 19 – Ellen Norton

React and react to others’ posts. 

                 After reading case 19, my strongest reaction was that Ms. Norton should not take Becky, her student, home with her under any circumstances. She would only be putting herself in a potentially violent, job-threatening, legally-questionable position. I know that teachers often know about students’ personal lives and feel sympathetic for them, but she is at the point where multiple students think she is their best friend. While it is good that students trust her and look up to her, it seems that she has opened herself up a bit too much in pursuit of tenure. This scenario is actually kind of ironic because she is trying to be involved with students to get tenure, but either taking Becky home or getting murdered by the stalker Abby will prevent that.

                I think ultimately Ms. Norton has put herself in this position, even though her intentions were good. In discussing her personal life with the first girl and asking inappropriate questions to the second one, she made these students think she could/would provide services that she can/should not. Imagine the position Ms. Norton would be in if Becky had really fallen off her bike, all the rumors were nothing but rumors, and Becky’s parents found out that her teacher was insinuating they were abusing her. The scenario with Becky could possibly have originated without Ms. Norton being buddy-buddy with students; regardless, she should contact a school social worker or guidance counselor immediately. It also would have been a good idea for her to do that before confronting Becky about the bruises in the first place, in my opinion. She might be a young woman and a good role model for students, but that does nothing to change the fact that she is not a licensed therapist, a guidance counselor, a summer-camp counselor, or their best friend.