How to Avoid Being Sued as a Teacher

We live in a litigious society and nowhere is this more obvious than in the teaching profession. One only has to tune in to the local news to find examples of teachers facing lawsuits, whether or not the plaintiff's charges are spurious. The best legal offense is a good defense and there are ways a teacher can avoid being sued.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Teacher code of ethics
• School board's teacher policies

1. Read and follow the teacher code of ethics. Each state publishes a code of ethics that defines the standards of conduct for teachers.
2. Read your school board's policies about the responsibilities and scope of the teaching profession in your local district. These policies contain valuable tips on meeting the expectations of students, parents and other teachers.
3. Take oral complaints seriously. If a parent expresses unhappiness with your behavior as a teacher, it may be a prelude to legal action.
4. Bestow no harm upon a student, including verbal harm or inappropriate touching. In fact, it is best to have no physical contact with students. This includes so called "comforting touches," which can be misconstrued by the recipient.
5. Join your local state teachers association. These organizations provide legal services for issues that routinely affect members, including legal consultations, referrals, liability insurance and workshops covering teacher rights and liability.
6. Stay up-to-date on hot-button topics in your region, including evolution, same sex education and censorship. Seek advice from the principle and established teachers in your school on how to handle these and other sensitive matters in the classroom.
7. Document any event that has the potential for legal trouble. If you have a confrontation with a student or parent, witness a student having an accident or face disciplinary action, write down as many details about the event as possible. Include what, where, when, how and why the event happened, as well as your response.