EDUC 2110-Lesson 9:

Teacher Ethics

Overview Viewpoint:

Lesson 9 of education 2110 focuses on the way teachers should act and present themselves. This was the longest lesson we had to do but it was helpful. This lesson gave great tips on what a teacher should or shouldn't do. For this lesson it involved watching three different case study videos. We also had to look at a slideshow to help us with the questions. Lesson 9 also makes you aware that even things that you might not think are unprofession can actually be. This lesson makes you more aware of why its important to follow policy's also.

 

General Ethics Questions

 

Who was your favorite teacher? Why? Identify the ethical dimensions inherent in the reasons you cite.

                My favorite teacher was in high school. His name that we called him was W.I. I think that’s why he was also a really good teacher because his name wasn’t long but two letters. One thing I liked was every day when we walked into the classroom there would be a quote on the board and some days it would be funny some it would be real life issues and ways to get through the problems. No matter what he would always have a good attitude. If something didn’t work for the class he would ask us what we felt more comfortable doing or what ways where better for us to learn. Another thing I liked about him some days we would play bingo with the math problems he would give us. Overall he made class fun.

 

Think about your philosophy of teaching – How does this communicate your personal ethical code?

                I think all teachers should teach being happy. Me personally I learn off people with good attitudes. I think it is also important for a teacher to follow the the correct code of ethics. I want to always be a positive person so my students arent afraid to come to me. I want them to actually be excited about coming to my class.

 

 Why are teachers held to a higher standard of conduct than other professions?

                I think teachers are held to a higher standard because they are supposed to set an example to students. Parents have to have their trust in the teachers because they are responsible for teaching their children. If a teacher is doing bad things like getting arrested or drugs parents wouldn’t want that teacher to be around their children. Another reason was that teachers are supposed to lead the students to success. They are supposed to have high standards because they represent the whole education system.

 

Why do these conduct expectations apply to a teacher’s personal life as well as his or her private life?

                If a teacher is doing bad things like drugs or drinking and driving sometimes it effects more than their personal life. This can affect how they teach. It can also affect the moods they give to their students. Parents want the best for their kids so they don’t want to put them around bad environments. These kids look up to their teachers to do big things so if they aren’t showing a good example a student might not want to listen to the teacher because they aren’t doing the right things.

 

Does the teaching profession need a code of conduct? Why?

                Yes and no. I feel like teachers should already know what is or isn’t professional. I think that teachers should know that they have to set good examples. They know that they are responsible for a student’s education and they shouldn’t be a distraction or wear things that is a distraction. If they were to have a code of conduct I think it should give them what the consequences are and what happens if they don’t follow. Some teachers do or say things in classrooms and it should play as a reminder.

 

Which of the areas of the Code might be the most challenging for a new teacher? Why?

                I think maybe social networking. To me the new teacher might have old pictures from college that are unprofessional and a student might see it. Sometimes a teacher might make a status that might not be professional. They might talk about their personal life or problems that they are having and it shouldn’t be something a student or parent might see. Another thing is cursing. Cursing is also unprofessional. I think social networking gets a lot of new teachers because they are not sure what is or isn’t appropriate to post.   

 

Case Study Video 1 Questions (The Ethical Teacher)

 

What could Daphne have done differently?  If you were in Daphne's situation, what would you have done?

I would have just waited till the end of the school year to leave. If the guy really loved her he would wait for her to come and understand. What messed up her career is that she left mid semester and didn’t give the school a proper notice. That would leave the school to go through a lot to find a new teacher in such a very short notice. That also meant if the students had to get a new teacher it might hurt the students because they were learning a different way. So I would have just gave my notice as soon I figured out that I was leaving but let the school know it would be when school was out.

 

Although the video mainly focuses on the professional repercussions to Daphne's actions, her decisions also had an effect on her personal life.  Identify all of the areas of Daphne Hartford's life that were affected.

                She became jobless. She lost her job for breaking the contract. She felt like she left her students down. They were upset with her because they felt like they wouldn’t do well anymore. It also messed up her education reputation because she was unprofessional with the school she was leaving. Schools aren’t going to want a teacher who would leave them mid semester and short notice so they don’t want to that chance.

 

Immanuel Kant proposed the concept of "universality" as a test when considering whether an action is ethical or not.  In Kant's view of universality, people should act only in a way that would be acceptable if it was the moral standard for all to follow.  Would it be acceptable for everyone to act the way Daphne Hartford acted?  How would that affect schools and students' learning?

 I don’t think it was acceptable for Daphne to act like that. It affects the school because it makes them short a teacher. It puts the school in a terrible place. They would have to find someone to replace her in a very short time limit. A teacher’s responsibility should be their students. By leaving mid semester it could have set back the students. Some students might have felt that she had given up on them and they might have been there only reason to want to learn. 

Do you feel that Daphne Hartford's actions were unethical or unprofessional? Why or why not?

I feel like it was unprofessional. I think she let her personal life take over her professional life. I also think because she felt like it was a good idea she wasn’t thinking about the school or her students. She gave the school short notice which makes it hard for the school. She also broke the contract. Breaking contracts even outside of the education system isn’t good.

 

 

Case Study Video 2 Questions (Relationships with Students)

 

According to the Georgia Code of Ethics, what are the professional expectations of teachers with regard to their relationships with students?

The professional expectations would be: they shouldn’t commit any verbal or physical abuse, no sexual acts including sexual harassment or abuse, engage in harassing behavior on the basis of race, gender,

sex, national origin, religion, or disability; nothing inappropriate and you’re not allowed to give them any alcohol or drugs.

 

How can a teacher foster positive, professional relationships with students?

                I think a teacher should never touch a student. That’s the most important thing because some students may take it the wrong way and it might go bad for a teacher. I think everything should also be done in a classroom and nowhere else. I think a teacher should always compliment a student but only on school stuff and not over doing it. I think that’s another way to have a positive and professional relationship because that’s part of their job. They should never do anything to make a student feel uncomfortable.

 

How is the appropriate teacher-student boundary defined?

                Their relationship should only be on a school basis. It should never be a private one. I teacher should always also have a professional relationship with their students. Some students might try to engage in a teacher buts it’s the teacher job to not let it get there. Boundaries have to be set by the teacher and it’s important for them to follow.

               

In many situations where teachers have inappropriate relationships with students, traditional teaching boundaries are crossed and the teacher-student relationship becomes blurred.  What events led to the boundaries becoming crossed?  How did the teacher-student relationship become blurred? What was the impact of the relationship on the student?

Some of the boundries where that the teacher asked the student to stay longer after practice. They also went to a off area away from things when it should of been in a classroom. The teacher also tounched the student in uncomforatable ways. He also complimented her in different ways other then educational. It become blurred especially when he started leaving notes and flowers. This makes the student lose trust for the teacher. The relationship between them is bad and needs to be reported. 

 

Do you agree with the action that Kim's mother took to protect her child?

                I do feel like it was appropriate. She made sure that her daughter was safe. She wanted to make sure that other students and parents was more aware so it wouldn’t happen to them. If Kim’s mother didn’t do what she had to do it could have gotten worse. You would never know what a person might do. It was good that she was able to put a stop to it so now he isn’t allowed to teach anymore because if kim didn’t tell he could of just moved to another state or city and do it to someone else.

 

If you suspected a colleague of committing this type of behavior, what would you do? Do you feel that you have a duty to report the misconduct of colleagues?  What factors inform your conclusion?

                                I would report it. I feel like it is a duty for anyone not just teachers to report misconduct. I reporting it may actually stop it from becoming something terrible. If I wasn’t to report it and something was to happen I would feel like it would have been my fault. It’s good to always take actions sooner or later and it doesn’t hurt just to report it and make sure that things it okay. As a teacher the student’s safety are a responsibility.

 

Case Study Video 3 Questions (Fostering and Ethical School Climate)

 

Teachers have a fiduciary responsibility to act in their students’ best interest and protect them from harm (physically, emotionally and psychological). Is the discipline policy implemented by this teacher consistent with this expectation? Explain.

 

The teacher could argue that doing sit-ups and pushups is acceptable considering these are activities that students would be asked to do in their physical education classes.  Do you agree with this argument?

                I have a mixed feeling about this question. I feel like its okay to tell a student to do pushups or sit ups but only for fun. I personally know some students who would do it. If they can’t do it I surely don’t think they should get hit for it. Where I have mixed feelings about is I also think physical education teacher should be the only ones to forcefully tell them to. If they not a physically education teacher then they shouldn’t force anyone to do anything physical.

 

How is this case different from school corporal punishment?

                The difference is that the teacher made the students physically hit him after he couldn’t do it. I think that in a corporal school they surely don’t cause physical harm on purpose.

 

What type of classroom culture does this discipline policy create?

 The culture might be a little scary. I think it would make it harder for a student to want to learn. I think they wouldnt be focused because they would be worried about when they next time they might get hurt. The policy would create a lot of fear. A school should always be a safe environment.

 

• Summary

                This lesson was on teacher ethical. It talks about what a student should and shouldn’t do any what the consequences should be. Teacher have high standards and parents have a lot of trust in them. A teacher should also never have or attempt to have sexual relationships with a student because it can really harm them in the end. A teacher should also be profession when it come to school and their private life. Some of the questions give examples on how your private life can affect your career. Making a little decision like leaving a school mid semester could actually hurt your career completely. It’s always good to act professional and never do anything to harm a school’s reputation. A teacher is an example of a community.

 

• Research Question

Can a teacher effect a school’s reputation?

http://www.education.com/reference/article/teachers-expectations-affect-learning/

 

• Research Analysis

                A Teacher can affect a school’s reputation. Teachers should really be careful of what they do inside or outside of school. When teachers do thing unacceptable the first thing a parent wants to do is move their child out the class or even to a different school. Some parents start to feel that the school hiring skills or bad and they might blame the school. Parents might even file complaints to have that teacher removed and sometimes it happens. The parents might give the school a bad reputation for hiring bad reputations and it might make other parents remove their children. It can also hurt a child. In their eyes the teacher might be a bad person if they did something bad. It makes them not want to learn. Other children can sometimes feed of others and they might not want to learn anymore. They might start to dislike the school.

                If a teacher does something good then it makes the school look good. It will make parents want their child to learn there. They start to gain trust for the school. Teachers are actually a big part when it comes to school climate. It’s always good for a teacher to have a positive attitude because it can create good things for the school and students.

 

• Summary

                Teachers are a big part of a school. They are what creates a school. If they do something bad it makes parents lose trust in them and people won’t want to send their child there.  Teachers she always set good example. It a career and if they want to hold on to it they should always follow the correct conduct. Teachers can also create positive environments and make a school really create. They can make a child really successful in the future.