Uncomfortable Teaching Assignment Concerns

Summary

If you feel uncomfortable with a teaching assignment in Texas, document your concerns and report them to the school administration. If unresolved, you can escalate the issue to the Texas Education Agency. Always respect privacy laws when gathering evidence.

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Hello! I subbed for a high school class this past Friday.
Hi ****! It's great to meet you. Could you be a bit more specific about the legal issue you are facing related to your substituting at the high school class? Also, may I know your location to provide accurate information?
And I had to sub for a class period that was called forensic science. And I felt a little uncomfortable about the assignment in this class. And I am feeling uncomfortable with the disturbing things in this class.
I'm sorry to hear about your discomfort, ****. To better assist you, could you please provide more detail on the "disturbing things" that caused discomfort? Also, your location will help me provide the most accurate information.
I’m in Texas.
I see, ****. It's unfortunate you had such an experience. Are these "disturbing things" related to the teaching content, student behavior, or something else? This will help me give you proper legal guidance.
There was an assignment left for me to give to them. It was actually a project that they were working on. It involved students researching crime cases.
I understand your concern, ****. In Texas, educational standards dictate content. However, if you feel content is inappropriate:
*. Report to the school administration
*. Document your concerns
*. If no action is taken, you can report to the Texas Education Agency.
I’m not sure if it’s like against the rules. It might just cause personal discomfort.
****, I understand your concern. In Texas, there are no specific laws against such content. However, if it causes discomfort:
- Discuss with the school administration
- If unresolved, you may raise it with the Texas Education Agency
- Always document your concerns and responses received.
Ok thank you.
You're welcome, ****! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have more questions or need further assistance. Remember, your comfort and ethical concerns are important. Good luck!
Actually I do have this one question.
Sure, ****. I'm here to help. What's your question?
What would be a way that I could give evidence that this class was being applied? Or the assignment?
To provide evidence, you could:
- Keep a copy of the assignment or project.
- Take note of dates and times the class took place.
- Document any conversations or emails related to the class or assignment.

Remember, always respect privacy laws when gathering evidence.
The note from the sub didn’t really explain the whole assignment.
I understand, ****. Can you share more about what you need to understand regarding the assignment? This could help me provide better guidance.
The note that was left did not mention anything about what the students were saying that they had to research.
I see, ****. Were the students' discussions related to the assignment? If so, you could use their discussions as part of your documentation. Just remember to respect privacy laws and not to disclose any personal information.
The note about the assignment was just saying that students need to continue to do research on their research project.
****, to clarify, you're unsure about the specific content of their research project because it wasn't detailed in the note, correct?
Yes.
If that's the case, ****, you may want to ask the administration or the regular teacher for more specifics about the assignment. This would help you understand and document your concerns better. Is there anything else you would like to know?
I don’t feel comfortable with doing that.
I understand your discomfort, ****. You could consider reaching out to a trusted colleague for advice, or anonymously report your concerns to the school board or Texas Education Agency if you continue to feel uncomfortable. Your well-being is important.
Thank you. I’ve just been through some things in my life to where I don’t think it should be a hobby to teach about that kind of stuff.
I understand, ****. Remember, your feelings and comfort are important. If teaching such content affects you personally, it's okay to voice your concerns. You may want to consider other teaching subjects or areas that align better with your comfort level. Take care.
Ok thank you! I am not teaching this class or giving these assignments . I was just subbing for this class.
I see, ****. As a substitute teacher, your role is to follow the lesson plans left by the regular teacher. If you feel uncomfortable about the content, consider sharing your discomfort anonymously with the school administration or the Texas Education Agency. They may provide guidance on how to handle such situations in the future.
Thank you!
You're welcome, ****! If you ever find yourself in a similar situation or have any more questions in the future, don't hesitate to reach out. Your comfort and well-being are always important. Take care! Answer: Thanks! I appreciate your help.