I'm a teacher, is this illegal to do with my students?

Question

NO this isn't something perverted. I teach history at a high school and this is only my 2nd year teaching. I teach it for grades 11 and 12, in Missouri (I wont say school or town for privacy reasons) . I also have had a recording studio in my basement that I have been using for about 6 years. I use it with my band, and also use it with other local bands who want to make an EP for some extra money. ( I master all the work and it's very professional) . Anyways, 4 of my students who have their own band asked me if they could pay to use my studio and if I'd master and mix their songs. Only 1 of those for students is not a minor. If I was to let them come to my house and charge them to use my studio (the same as I charge all other bands) and help them with their EP, could I get in trouble in anyway legally since they are my students? Would my job or reputataion be at stake in any way? Please let me know what you know. Thank you.

Answer 1

I agree with mmby2k. Get it in writing. Get a contract or something. Definitely inform your school principal and their parents too.

Your students would be in the basement right? And that's not a very.. how do I say it. It's kind of a private part of the house isn't it? Most people wouldn't be able to see you and what you're doing. Rumors may fly. It might not matter as much if they were in your living room or study room where you could be giving tuition and it's out in the open.

On another note, I think it's great that you get along with your students even outside school. Most teachers I know don't really make friends with their students.

Edit: Oh, and Gee-Gee makes a fine point! I didn't think of that until I read it. But it's entirely possible too.

Answer 2

Illegal is probably the wrong term to use in this question. There is not a state law, especially a state criminal law, involved in this issue.

If there is a legal issue, it would be a matter of local school board policies and your contract with the school. You should take a close look at what any employee policy and/or the written contract says about involvement with students outside of school.

The real problem is that this activity is occurring in your private home. This is not the case of owning a restaurant or grocery store that is public where everyone can see what is taking place. If you decide to do this, you should talk to the parents first. Even if your students are technically adults, you don't want the parents to cause a commotion if they find out later about something they didn't know. Second, basic sexual harassment protection guidelines suggest (and in this case I would strongly recommend following them) not having students or minors in your home without another adult present. If one of these students gets ticked at you later and makes up a story about misconduct, you will lose your job regardless of the truth of the complaint if you don't have a witness to prove your side of the case -- the school board just will not want the potential liability.

Answer 3

I would not recommend doing this, but if you do, you absolutely need to take precautions. If you would be charging them for services in a professional capacity, there should be a contract. A minor cannot legally enter into a binding contract. I would request that the students are accompanied by at least one parent at all times while in your home. The risk cannot be worth the reward. The appearance of impropriety by crossing the line of the student teacher relationship is definitely present. As we all know, allegations of improper conduct is enough to ruin a teacher's reputation, career, family, and life. If you wish to know more about this situation let me know...

Answer 4

There is potential for an ethical conflict but I don't see a legal problem. If your home is a licensed place of business and you provide a service to customers off the street then the concern is negligible. If your studio is private and you charge money to students to provide a service in your home then you had best be careful. Consult with the guide to professional ethics in your profession to be safe.
here is a link I found that might be helpful. See principal 2, 8

http://www.nea.org/aboutnea/code.html

Answer 5

If you run a business why would your students ask whether they could patronize that business? Why wouldn't they just go and do it. If you are in doubt, perhaps you would do best to consult people you work with, such as the principal of the school. Or consult the parents of the students. If you are really a high school teacher I wonder why you spell four "for" and why you say "If I was" instead of "If I were".
I'd recommend that you not engage in any non-school related activities with any students (of age or minors) unless you have someone else there with you, such as a parent of the student.

Answer 6

I think you need to be worried not only about what is going on, but what might appear to be going on.

I would, at a minimum, make sure your principal knows about it. Some school districts might have a policy about outside work or for-profit ventures of any kind.

Personally, I'd back off if I were you. Some completely innocent teachers have been maliciously accused of sexual stuff by students.

My late brother, who was a French teacher in Toronto, made it a rule NEVER to touch kids, or NEVER to meet them outside school other than as an organized school activity.

I teach in a junior high in Taiwan, and I take similar precautions to protect myself here.

Answer 7

I'm not a cop or a lawyer but I think it would put you in an awkward situation. With the amount of Teacher/Student press lately, I would not take the change on even being put into a situation where even the good can be misinterpreted. Tell them you are sorry, but the school board says you cannot do this and recommend an other studio.

Life experience.

Answer 8

you should not be asking somebody on here, you may get a correct answer, but you are better going through your education department you work for and any other authority that this may come under, and get a definite ruling and get it on paper signed by somebody in authority, because if one of these minors wants to be nasty some years down the track they can say anything they like, and you have to prove it didn't happen, I would be very careful having students you teach, even though silly really as students from another school it would be acceptable, good luck

Answer 9

Usually if there is an accident occur you're responsible for it, Think about it is the money really worth all the trouble you're risking? that's for you to think. It is best if you let their parent know that they are coming to your house and practice and you'll be supervising them but will not be held responsible for any accident that will occur. It's better to be safe than sorry. So I suggest you make some kind of note or form and ask all of them to ask their parent to sign it ( 18 might not be consider a minor but they are still dependent by law if they're living with their parent).

Answer 10

I don't think so. A lot of teachers help students with things such as this, plus you're charging them for a service. You should check with the principal. If there were no objections I'd still have other people around to protect your reputation. Better safe than sorry.