Question on teacher ethics regarding coercion and/or scare tactics

[kmurphy2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Idaho

Hello,

Background: My child has attended a small Catholic private school through 6th grade (which ends in a week). Historically this school only went through 6th grade, but next year they are adding a 7th and 8th grade. My child prefers to go the public school however, and will do so in 7th grade. Unfortunately, the private school is not happy about losing students and has repeatedly asked her why she is leaving. She was also recently told by one of the teachers aides that 80% of the kids in the middle school smoke marijuana. This is not true, as 8 comprehensive surveys have shown over the past 16 years (the actual figure is 10%). The aide cites an anonomyous insider as her source.

Question: Is this behavior appropriate, ethical and/or legal? It seems coercive to me - a scare tactic meant to keep my daughter at the private middle school.

Thank you.

 

[CdwJava]

Legal? Sure.

Ethical? That might depend upon the motivation.

Since your child will be out of the school in a week, and you believe the figure to be untrue based upon some sort of survey information, then it really should have little effect on the decision that would appear to have already been made.

Many people exaggerate the problems in schools they do not attend or have issue with. Many parents likely send their kids to private school because they sometimes fear the exaggerated claims of impropriety in the public schools. When your child goes to the public school, you will almost certainly see a difference in the culture (including deviance) that she is exposed to. Whether this is good or bad will be something for your family to decide.

 

[ecmst12]

Being exposed to deviance while still in a supervised, controlled setting (living at home with parents) will make the kids much better able to handle the choices they will be exposed to when they get to college or out in the world.