Nobody ever said teaching was easy. In fact, it’s commonly cited as one of the most difficult jobs, yet dedicated educators still manage to find satisfaction in their work. According to the Teaching and Learning International Survey, 90% of U.S. teachers are satisfied with their work. This statistic reveals the passion most teachers have for their job and their students. Unfortunately, though, passion cannot shield a teacher from false accusations of misconduct. Teachers must always be aware of the liabilities associated with their profession and take the following steps to prevent false allegations.

Maintain a Paper Trail

One of the most effective ways to discount a false accusation is to maintain a strong paper trail regarding troublesome students. If a particular student makes alarming comments or engages in conduct that raises a red flag, a teacher should document these incidents in the student’s disciplinary file. Doing so can help prevent any future accusations from progressing, and it can also help to provide context to any claims the student may make. Documentation is a teacher’s best friend in preventing false accusations.

Avoid Appearance of Impropriety

Even if no untoward behavior takes place, the appearance of impropriety is often enough to lend credence to a claim. If a teacher regularly gives a teenage student rides to and from school, for example, this is likely an entirely innocent exchange — in fact, the teacher is likely helping the student. Outside parties might misinterpret the actions, though, which may create an opportunity for false allegations to flourish. For this reason, teachers must avoid any interaction that might be misconstrued — even if there is no ill intent.

Implement Accountability Practices

Teachers can take additional steps to prevent liability by implementing a framework of accountability in their classroom. If a student seems to pose a threat or makes concerning comments, it might be a good idea to have another teacher or an administrator visit the class and act as a witness. If these visits are unannounced to students, the student might be less likely to act out, and the looming threat of supervision is often enough to keep a class in line. This serves students and it also protects teachers by providing documented observations of the instructor’s behavior.

Address Problems Before They Arise

In many cases, a problem will escalate gradually over time. It starts with subtle signs until it evolves into an entire ordeal. It might be tempting for a teacher to give a student the benefit of the doubt and ignore minor problem behaviors in the interest of keeping the peace. Generally, however, this is not a good idea. If a student seems likely to cause trouble or hints at allegations of inappropriate conduct, this behavior should be halted immediately.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, LLC., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.