Moral and Ethical Issues

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Moral and Ethical Issues
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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

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Teachers 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

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Demonstrate Moral Professionalism

• 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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Principle 1Commitment 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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Principle 2Commitment 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Ethical Issues

• Human dignity
• Vulnerable persons
• Confidentiality and privacy
• Justice
• Safety of students
• Harm and benefits

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.