In Loco Parentis

In Loco Parentis

The term In Loco Parentis; Latin for “in the place of a parent”, refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organisation to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. The doctrine of in loco parentis is generally applied to educational institutions. Originally derived from British common law, it was applied as a broad provision allowing such institutions to act in the best interests of the students as they see fit.

The artwork In Loco Parentis is a two screen video projection featuring a performance by Sean O’Keeffe and his father Harry O’Keeffe a  retired High School English teacher. Harry had been teaching for over fifty years in the public education system.

The concept principally deals with the ideas about learned, taught compelled and modelled behaviour. It also explores teaching as a vocation and on a personally level the idea of following parental footsteps.