TJHSST Professional Ethics in Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FERPA, which of the following individuals generally has the right to access a minor student's educational records at TJHSST?
- Any teacher who has met the student once
- The student's legal parents or guardians (Correct answer)
- Reporters investigating school performance
- College admissions officers without consent
Correct answer: The student's legal parents or guardians
FERPA grants parents and legal guardians the right to access their minor child's educational records held by the school.
Question 2: A TJHSST teacher posts a photo of a student's award-winning science project on the school's public social media without parental consent. This action most likely violates:
- Copyright law only
- FERPA and school privacy policies (Correct answer)
- First Amendment protections
- The student's intellectual property rights exclusively
Correct answer: FERPA and school privacy policies
Posting identifiable student information publicly without consent can violate FERPA and school privacy policies, even when the intent is to celebrate achievement.
Question 3: Which scenario best illustrates a conflict of interest for a TJHSST educator?
- A teacher grading a student they do not personally like
- A teacher grading their own child enrolled in their class (Correct answer)
- A teacher assigning a difficult exam before a holiday
- A teacher recommending a challenging textbook
Correct answer: A teacher grading their own child enrolled in their class
Grading one's own child creates a conflict of interest because personal relationships can compromise objective and impartial evaluation.
Question 4: The concept of 'in loco parentis' means that during the school day, educators at TJHSST:
- Have unlimited authority over students in all matters
- Stand in place of parents and bear certain duties of care toward students (Correct answer)
- Are exempt from legal liability for student injuries
- Must obtain parental permission before any instructional decision
Correct answer: Stand in place of parents and bear certain duties of care toward students
In loco parentis means schools act in place of parents, carrying a duty of reasonable care for students while they are under school supervision.
Question 5: A teacher at TJHSST uses a student's case (anonymized) as an example in a professional development presentation. Which ethical consideration is most relevant?
- Whether the example makes the teacher look good
- Whether anonymization is sufficient to prevent identification (Correct answer)
- Whether the case involves advanced coursework
- Whether the student received an A in the class
Correct answer: Whether anonymization is sufficient to prevent identification
Even anonymized examples can violate confidentiality if enough details allow the student to be identified; educators must ensure true anonymity.
Question 6: When a TJHSST educator disagrees with a school policy, the most professionally ethical response is to:
- Openly disregard the policy in front of students
- Comply while working to change the policy through legitimate channels (Correct answer)
- Resign immediately to protest the policy
- Encourage students to challenge the policy on social media
Correct answer: Comply while working to change the policy through legitimate channels
Professional ethics require compliance with institutional policies while allowing dissent to be expressed through legitimate, constructive channels.
Question 7: Which best describes 'informed consent' as it applies to student participation in a TJHSST research study conducted by a teacher?
- The teacher telling students about the study after it is complete
- Students and their parents receiving full information and voluntarily agreeing before participation (Correct answer)
- The principal approving the study on behalf of all students
- Students signing a form without necessarily understanding its contents
Correct answer: Students and their parents receiving full information and voluntarily agreeing before participation
Informed consent requires that participants (and parents, for minors) understand the nature of the study and voluntarily agree before it begins.
TJHSST Professional Ethics in Education 3
Under FERPA, which of the following individuals generally has the right to access a minor student's educational records at TJHSST?