In Loco Parentis

in lo⋅co pa⋅ren⋅tis
Latin.
- In the place or role of a parent.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/In+loco+Parentis

- The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent" or "instead of a parent,"[1] refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. Originally derived from English common law, it is applied in two separate areas of the law.
First, it allows institutions such as colleges and schools to act in the best interests of the students as they see fit, although not allowing what would be considered violations of the students' civil liberties.[1]
Second, this doctrine can provide a non-biological parent to be given the legal rights and responsibilities of a biological parent if they have held themselves out as the parent.[2]
The in loco parentis doctrine is distinct from the doctrine of parens patriae, the psychological parent doctrine, and adoption.[3] In the United States, the parental liberty doctrine imposes constraints upon the operation of the in loco parentis doctrine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_loco_parentis

- [Latin, in the place of a parent.] The legal doctrine under which an individual assumes parental rights, duties, and obligations without going through the formalities of legal Adoption.
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/In+loco+parentis

At its most basic definition, in loco parentis means taking on the role of a child’s parents. There are numerous ways this can be applied to teachers, depending on circumstances, and it makes sense that this would be the case considering the amount of time a child spends in the classroom. Part of our responsibilities as a teacher is looking out for the best interests of our students and that can take form in many different ways. Beyond ensuring a safe community in which a student can learn, there are times when we as teachers have to go above and beyond just our roles as educators. For instance, while we want to keep a level of confidentiality between ourselves and our students if they choose to share things with us, we are required by law to share certain things such as issues involving abusive parents, or other serious matters such as sexual abuse etc. There can be times when a student injures themselves and as a teacher we have to step in to rectify the situation, whether it’s something minor like a cut hand, or something more intense that would require a trip to the hospital, if the student’s parents are unable to be there in time, we have to do what is required. If we hear about a fight, we should take whatever steps we need to, to ensure it cannot even happen to begin with. Though some would argue we should never step in the middle of a fight in progress, for our own protection, one cannot turn a blind eye to such incedents. While we definitely are not glorified babysitters, there are instances that do require us to take action, just like a parent would, in the best interest of the student.