It's a heliocentric world out there

On a state test you are interpreting a question with the key word "heliocentric". Do you sign "sun center" perhaps giving away the answer, or do you fingerspell the word because they should know that vocabulary anyhow?

Substitute teacher=day off?

There is a substitute teacher in your high school math class. The sub handed out a work sheet and took attendance.

-is your job done as there will be no instruction?
-should you stay in the room, just in case?
-your bring paid to be present, so no question, you stay.

Calculus chaos

The teacher in this high school calculus class leaves the room. You are the lone adult in a sea of bored and unruly teens. One jumps out of his seat and closes the door behind the teacher, hoping it will lock behind her and she can't get back in. He the turns to you and says, "I was in my seat the whole time, Miss. Right?"

You know your supposed to follow the teacher out of a classroom but when she left you were interpreting an explanation and was surprised by the teacher's sudden departure.

List everything wrong with this situation.

What are things you can do to prevent such a situation from reoccurring.

If you can't prevent this situation, what options do you have for dealing with it, for making ethical decisions while in this situation.

Educational team

A hearing student comments-loudly-that she is planning on cheating on the test tomorrow. You interpret for your student who advises the cheater in her poor idea. But, the teacher never catches on.

Sure enough, the cheater had an answer written on her hand. She shows a number of her peers. Again, the teacher has no idea.

-what is your responsibility? She is hearing, not yours.
-but you are an adult in the room.

Can you relay a message?

Class is over. Your student left. You are packing your bag. The professor comes up to you and asks, "can you tell your student x, y, and z? Please."

You have seen her talk directly to your student before so you conclude she wasn't avoiding your student but just missed them before they left.

Although you consider
1.) telling her you'll have the student talk to her at the beginning of class tomorrow.
2.) saying when you see the student in class, you'll tell them

Instead you say sure. After all, you'll see them again in 15 minutes.

Right? Wrong? Options?

Can I leave early?

You team the last period of a high school class. You are the 2nd team on and half way through class you come in to relieve your team. After the team leaves your student signs, “You can leave. There is nothing happening today.”

Would the following circumstances inform your decision:
1. The student never pays attention and you feel that is disrespectful.
2. They are doing group work and you know the student communicates well with his group.
3. You want to get some shopping done on your way home and would like to leave early.
4. You have nothing else to do and are paid to stay.

Consider the situation with the above variables. What would be the ethical options? What are the practical options. What would you do?

Coffee or Science?

You interpret in a high school on-going. During earth science you have a team as the material is difficult and the teacher lectures the entire period. Yet today—and about once a week—the students copy questions from the board and work on their own. Your team suggests, since neither of you are “working” you go out to buy your much needed coffee.

*Is it ok to leave during your scheduled interpreting time? Its possible you return the favor next week. And you’ll be back well before the next period.

*What are the professional consequences?

*What are the short and long term consequences?

*What pattern are you establishing for other interpreters in your high school?

Skipping out early

You interpret at a high school. Your show up to the last period of the day and notice your student skipped out early. What do you do? Do you leave? If you leave, do you report that on your invoice? What are your options?

+What is the ethical conflict?
+What is the Code of Professional Conduct the interpreters should be keeping in mind?
+What did you do?
+What should you do?
+What are the consequences of your decision?