CONCEPTUALIZING BOUNDARIES

Blurring of curricular boundaries may include: When lesson plans are easily and often derailed, when a teacher permits or participates in conversations of morally and emotionally charged issues that are outside the scope of the curriculum.

Examples of blurring emotional boundaries may include: a teacher yelling or curses at a student, crying in front of them, and/or showing emotion in a way that puts an emotional burden on students. 

Relationship boundaries may be blurred by such behaviors as encouraging a student to call a teacher by their first name, and accepting an invitation to use the vacation home that belongs to a student’s family. Intimate or sexual relationships with current or former students are always a boundary violation, and are often criminal. Sexual or intimate touch of any kind is always a boundary violation. With few exceptions, all touch initiated by the teacher (such as a hug or pat on the arm) may cross a relationship boundary. Hugs initiated by a student may be appropriate, depending on the individual circumstance.

Examples of crossing power boundaries include: using authority to harm or embarrass a student, exchanging favors for grades or recommendations, etc., extracting goods or services from a student, allowing students to flout school or classroom rules.

Institutional boundaries are either explicit (i.e., in writing) or tacit (i.e., common practice). Often school norms permit a large degree of flexibility and teacher discretion. Institutional boundaries are violated when explicit policies are ignored, such as driving a student home in a personal vehicle, or leaving the classroom unattended. Many schools also have institutional boundaries related to social media interactions and postings that teachers are expected to adhere to. 

Financial boundaries may be blurred when teachers perform favors, give gifts, or loan money to an individual student or their family. 

Communication boundaries may be blurred, for instance, when a teacher adopts a sarcastic tone with students, when they divulge intimate personal information, breach a student’s confidentiality, or engage in conversations that are highly personal in nature. They may also be blurred by communicating with students on non-school approved outlets, such as social media or personal phones. 

Temporal boundaries can be blurred in classrooms when time spent with one student detracts from time spent with others. They can be crossed outside of school if a teacher spends too much time on behalf of their students that they neglect their own health, relationships, etc., or if they communicate with students outside of regular school hours.  

*Aultman et al. have a separate category for temporal and personal boundaries; here, we combine them. 

Spatial boundaries may be blurred when teachers drive students in their personal cars, visit students at home, invite students to the teacher’s home, or interact with students outside of the school (e.g., meeting a student for coffee).

Cultural boundaries can be violated in obvious ways, such as disrespecting or denigrating the food, customs, or beliefs of others. They may also be crossed, often unintentionally, in subtler ways. For example, in some cultures, the act of calling a teacher by their first name is considered disrespectful, and students may be made uncomfortable when invited to do so. 

Role/position boundaries may be blurred when teachers advise students about issues, topics, or situations that they do not have the training or positional authority to address.