Transcript Moral and Ethical Issues

Moral and Ethical Issues
Definitions
• Morals - concerned with principles of right
and wrong or conforming to standards of
behavior and character based on those
principles
• Ethics - a set of moral principles or values
Teacher’s Moral Obligation
• First moral obligation is to provide
excellent instruction
• Teachers with high level of moral
professionalism have a deep obligation to
help students learn
Demonstrate Moral Professionalism
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Coming to work regularly and on time
Being well informed about subject matter
Planning and conducting classes with care
Regularly reviewing and updating
instructional practices
Demonstrate Moral Professionalism
• Cooperating with, or if necessary, confronting
parents of underachieving students
• Cooperating with colleagues and observing school
policies so the whole institution works effectively
• Tactfully, but firmly, criticizing unsatisfactory
school policies and proposing constructive
improvement
Code of Ethics of the
Education Profession (NEA)
• The educator, believing in the worth and dignity of
each human being, recognizes the supreme
importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to
excellence, and the nurture of the democratic
principles. Essential to these goals is the
protection of freedom to learn and to teach and the
guarantee of equal educational opportunity for
all. The educator accepts the responsibility to
adhere to the highest ethical standards.
Code of Ethics of the
Education Profession (NEA)
• The educator recognizes the magnitude of the
responsibility inherent in the teaching process.
The desire for the respect and confidence of one's
colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the
members of the community provides the incentive
to attain and maintain the highest possible degree
of ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics of the
Education Profession indicates the aspiration of
all educators and provides standards by which to
judge conduct.
Principle 1:
Commitment to the Student
• The educator strives to help each student
realize his or her potential as a worthy and
effective member of society. The educator
therefore works to stimulate the spirit of
inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and
understanding, and the thoughtful
formulation of worthy goals.
Commitment to the Student
• In fulfillment of the obligation to the student, the
educator:
• Shall not unreasonably restrain the student from
independent action in the pursuit of learning.
• Shall not unreasonably deny the student's access to
varying points of view.
• Shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject
matter relevant to the student's progress.
Commitment to the Student
• Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from
conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety.
• Shall not intentionally expose the student to
embarrassment or disparagement.
• Shall not on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national
origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family,
social or cultural background, or sexual orientation,
unfairly–
– Exclude any student from participation in any program
– Deny benefits to any student
– Grant any advantage to any student
Commitment to the Student
• Shall not use professional relationships with
students for private advantage.
• Shall not disclose information about
students obtained in the course of
professional service unless disclosure serves
a compelling professional purpose or is
required by law.
Principle 2:
Commitment to the Profession
• The education profession is vested by the public with a
trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of
professional service.
• In the belief that the quality of the services of the education
profession directly influences the nation and its citizens,
the educator shall exert every effort to raise professional
standards, to promote a climate that encourages the
exercise of professional judgment, to achieve conditions
that attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in
education, and to assist in preventing the practice of the
profession by unqualified persons.
Commitment to the Profession
• In fulfillment of the obligation to the profession,
the educator:
• Shall not in an application for a professional
position deliberately make a false statement or fail
to disclose a material fact related to competency
and qualifications.
• Shall not misrepresent his/her professional
qualifications.
• Shall not assist any entry into the profession of a
person known to be unqualified in respect to
character, education, or other relevant attribute.
Commitment to the Profession
• Shall not knowingly make a false statement
concerning the qualifications of a candidate for a
professional position.
• Shall not assist a noneducator in the unauthorized
practice of teaching.
• Shall not disclose information about colleagues
obtained in the course of professional service
unless disclosure serves a compelling professional
purpose or is required by law.
Commitment to the Profession
• Shall not knowingly make false or
malicious statements about a colleague.
• Shall not accept any gratuity, gift, or favor
that might impair or appear to influence
professional decisions or action.
Ethical Issues
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Human dignity
Vulnerable persons
Confidentiality and privacy
Justice
Safety of students
Harm and benefits
Respect for Human Dignity
• Speaks and acts towards all students with
respect and dignity; and deals judiciously with
them at all times, always mindful of their
individual rights and personal sensibilities.
• Respects the dignity and responsibilities of
cooperating teachers, peers, principals, parents
and other professionals or para-professionals
within the school, school board and community.
Respect for Vulnerable Persons
• Respects and recognizes ethical
obligations towards vulnerable persons.
This principle recognizes that students
are in a vulnerable position and that
student teachers are in a privileged
relationship with students and their
families and will always refrain from
exploiting that relationship in any form
or manner.
Respect for
Confidentiality and Privacy
• Respects the confidential nature of all
information related to students and their
families and will share such information in an
appropriate manner only with those directly
concerned with their welfare.
• Respects the confidential nature of all
information related to all school personnel and
will share such information in an appropriate
manner.
Respect for Justice
• Respects and recognizes the right of
individuals to be treated with fairness
and equity and the importance of
avoiding conflicts of interest.
Respect for Safety of Students
• Respects the right of individuals to expect
that student teachers will engage in
practices that aim to ensure the physical,
psychological and emotional safety of
students.
Balancing Harm and Benefits
• Acknowledges that any potentially
harmful practices (e.g. lab activities)
must be balanced with anticipated
benefits and conducted in a prudent
informed manner.