Transcript Document

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OUT!
Every field has a code of ethics that
governs how its professionals will
behave in a range of situations. In Unit
8, we will explore the ethical code(s)
that govern professionals in the field
early childhood development. It is
critical that you start you career in the
field with this knowledge in hand!
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After completing this unit, you should be able to:
 Identify which ethical codes govern
professionals who work in the field of early
childhood development
 Explain the main reasons why ethical codes are
important
Course outcomes practiced in this unit:
 Identify early childhood professional roles,
responsibilities, and standards
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
MAIN SECTIONS

Ethical Responsibilities to Children

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues

Ethical Responsibilities to Community
and Society
Values. Qualities or principles that individuals believe
to be desirable or worthwhile and that they prize
for themselves, for others, and for the world in
which they live.
Core Values. Commitments held by a profession that are consciously
and knowingly embraced by its practitioners because they make a
contribution to society. There is a difference between personal
values and the core values of a profession.
Code of Ethics. Defines the core values of the field
and provides guidance for what professionals
should do when they encounter conflicting obligations
or responsibilities in their work.
Morality. Peoples’ views of what is good, right, and
proper; their beliefs about their obligations; and
their ideas about how they should behave.
Ethics. The study of right and wrong, or duty and
obligation, that involves critical reflection on
morality and the ability to make choices between
values and the examination of the moral dimensions
of relationships.
Professional Ethics. The moral commitments of a
profession that involve moral reflection that
extends and enhances the personal morality
practitioners bring to their work, that concern
actions of right and wrong in the workplace, and
hat help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they
You are a toddler teacher. A
student's mother comes to pick up
her child and drive him home. From
her slurred speech and clumsy
movements, you suspect that she
has been drinking heavily after
work.
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
The issue: Do you refuse to let the parent take the
child and ask her to call someone else to drive OR
do you let her drive the child home?
Response: You decide to ignore it this time, because
you're not sure that she's really drunk.
Is this correct? What would you do? Go to p. 3 in the
Code of Ethics in your readings and be prepared to
share which principle you based your decision on.

You teach in a school that has a population from a
culture in which physical punishment is common.
This morning a girl from this cultural group strikes
another child. A new aide who shares the child's
culture grabs him and twists his ear. The child is
momentarily stunned but soon is fine and seems
calm the rest of the day. Apart from some redness,
there are no other effects. When you speak with the
aide, she tells you children in her community are
used to this discipline. She says, "It calmed him
down, didn't it?"
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
The issue: Do you tell the aide that physical
punishment is not acceptable in your class
OR do you let it go?
Response: You let it go because she knows the
culture better than you do.
Is this correct? What would you do? Go to p. 3
in the Code of Ethics in your readings and be
prepared to share which principle you based

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
As we discussed earlier, our first responsibility is to the
children with whom we work. Let’s talk more about
our ethical responsibilities towards them.

Go to the classroom and click on Readings to find
NAEYC ‘s position statement on ethics in early
childhood. Go to the bottom of page 2 and choose one
of the principles listed that has particular meaning for
you. Be prepared to tell us what it is and why it is
meaningful to you. You may share a personal example
that occurred while you were working with children if
you like.
Just for fun……Storytime
 Complete the readings.
 Participate in discussion.
 Attend seminar ( Hellooooo out
there!)
 Complete the game and the graded
review.
 E-mail or call with questions.
Thank you for joining me! It has been
a pleasure share with you again this
evening!
If you ever need anything… email me!
Follari, L. (2010). Foundations and best practices
in early childhood education: History, theories,
and approaches to learning. Boston: Pearson.
Jupiter Images Corporation, (2010).
Clipart.com. Retrieved May 10, 2010 from
http://www.clipart.com