Educators are responsible for their actions in the classroom and should strive to create a nurturing and fulfilling learning environment for all students. Indicator 3 reads “shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to student’s progress” (NEA, 1975). Fifty teachers participated in … On the other hand, who takes the blame for the failure of the student(s) – the rather incompetent teacher or the lazy student. Recently, we asked a group of teachers to share examples of sticky ethical situations they’ve experienced. This we may face if we cannot sup port the full financial burden of public education truly an educational dilemma of great magnitude. When professionals or students engage in unethical behavior it can damage a good student-teacher relationship. What every special educator must know: Ethics, standards, and guidelines for special educators. ConclusionAs with other types of ethical dilemmas in education, … Mr. Edwards and Mr. Marcus are special education teachers who work with third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students. Resolving common ethical dilemmas requires forethought and insight. Mr. Daniels should talk to Ms. Ming about his interest in maintaining positive professional relationships with all the members of the school team. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Ming are both sixth-grade English teachers. Ethical Dilemmas: The Right to Education In the distant past formal education was reserved for the privileged. He has been writing possible individualized education program (IEP) goals for Chris, a young boy with a developmental disability who will be in second grade the following school year. The preamble to the NEA’s code of ethics sets a clear and noble standard for educators: 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 nurture of the democratic principles. He believes that all teachers should have high, but reasonable, expectations for their students. individuals facing ethical dilemmas are likely to experience and attempts also to identify the relationships among individuals, institutions and the community in evidence in the ethical dilemma. The standards deal with professionals in relation to: (a) persons with exceptionalities and their families, (b) employment, and (c) the profession and the people within the profession. What should he do about this situation? What are ethical responsibilities of teachers? Her principal expressed concern over the low scores and asked Ms. Jackson specific questions about her student’s performance. For instance, a RN working in the PICU may be asked to care for a child who has been a victim of child abuse and be asked to also be kind and impartial to the parents at their child's bedside who are suspected, but not convicted, with the crime. D. Professor Educational Administration Department School of Education National University San Jose, California, USA Abstract School leaders have been ethically challenged … Reston, VA: CEC. Analyzing case studies of similar ethical dilemmas may help teachers make the “right decision” when faced with similar situations. ... W.R. (2009), Ethical Leadership in Higher Education: Evolution of Institutional Ethics Logic. By focusing on the outcome of each action, utilitarianism demands that you decide on what course of action based on the benefits or harm of the actions without regard to the cost of the action. How does teachers/trainees experiences ethical dilemmas terms of relationship boundaries in practical field? The . The IEP team is responsible for developing an educational program of the highest quality based on goals developed as a team. The CEC Code of Ethics states that, “Special education professionals work within the standards and policies of their profession” (CEC, 2003, p. 1). The distinctions between these types are often important for disagreements about whether there are ethical dilemmas or not. This student had been diagnosed years ago by a medical doctor as having several childhood illnesses and frequent ear infections. “What would you do? He might point out the numerous strengths of all the team members, the benefits of teamwork and collaboration, and the usefulness of the NEA Code of Ethics. While the zero tolerance policy is used for aggressive and anti-social and behavioural in-disciplinary actions like carrying firearms in the school and bullying, the second chance policy can be used for the encouragement of better academic performance. Using a code of ethics can help teachers make informed decisions based on the code’s principles. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. On a serious note, the argument of how students should be graded and the parameters guiding such grades are always questionable. Foundations of American education. The focus group participants identified ethical dilemmas including competing interpretations of appropriate practices for promoting children's best interests and different cultural values and priorities related to child rearing and education between parents and EI professionals. Her college instructor emphasized the importance of strictly following the administration protocol when assessing students with a standardized test. Javier’s mother and father disagree about everything. The environment and specialty a RN works in can determine specific ethical dilemmas. The list of unethical issues in education that sometimes act as stumbling blocks to effective learning can be said to be endless. Depending on his willingness to intervene, he might offer to help the two teachers find common ground, starting with students, school initiatives, or parent and community projects. Dilemmas such as these may be experienced by any teacher at any time. Parkay, F. W. (2004). Additionally, she believes that it is ethically wrong to alter the test results. You need to be prepared to deal with that. Individuals like Mr. Andrews will face a variety of ethical and moral dilemmas throughout their teaching careers; however, educators do not have a common board that governs its members’ ethical behavior. In addition to the ethical issues affecting learning mentioned above, other issues worth noting include flexibility in the curriculum development, teaching strategy, continuous assessments, knowledge transfer and best practices cross the board. Objectives of the Study. Ms. Jackson is a new special education teacher finishing her first year of teaching a self-contained class at a local high school. Other organizations have similar codes (see Table 1). What should he do? As a result, the principal instructed Ms. Jackson to give credit for questions the student might have been able to answer correctly but got wrong on the test. Javier was diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the first grade. Ms. Jackson may also discuss test-administering strategies with her principal in order to avoid this conflict in the future. Mr. Andrews could base his actions on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Code of Ethics. These dilemmas include subjects such … Download Citation | Physical education teachers' types of analysing professional ethical dilemmas | Ethics discusses underlying ideas of us by examining our behaviours. 2, pp. We are here for you and now, better than ever so sit back and enjoy What should she do? Mr. Edwards is in a difficult situation with Mr. Marcus, because technically Mr. Marcus is doing what the principal has implied he should do. Javier’s father still gives his son the medication when he stays with him on the weekends. What is the perception of teachers on their curriculum with reference to ethical education? We are excited to announce that FibromyalgiaTreating.com is now part of RedOrbit.com. With the growing impact of digital technologies, such ethical thinking tools are needed to extend the way that we evaluate young people's digital activities and the increased digital systems used in schools. And only some types, if any, may constitute genuine ethical dilemmas. She may therefore decide to follow the referral procedures that are in place at her school. Webb, D. L. (2007). The NEA developed its code of ethics in 1975. Schools are continuously faced with the issue of diversity stemming from students having different social and ethnic backgrounds. Ms. Jackson knows that this will invalidate the test results. In this class Ms. Jackson learned all about different types of assessments including standardized, curriculum-based, and informal assessments. Finally, we analyze each vignette using either the NEA’s or CEC’s code of ethics, identify ethical indicators that cover the situation, and propose a solution for each dilemma based on the code. Mr. Edwards could work collaboran’vely with Mr. Marcus to review the standardized testing guidelines for the state tests and seek consultation from testing experts in the district. The National Education Association nea.org has two principles which include, Principle I: commitment to the students and Principle II: Commitment to the Profession. The appearance of a new medium such Certain arguments for or against their existence may apply only to some types but not to other types. Ethnic sports and multicultural festivals should be organized at schools, helping to bring together students of diverse backgrounds and helping to promote unity amongst them. Mr. Garrison’s actions could be influenced by NEA’s Code of Ethics Principle I: Commitment to the Student. Participant-generated early intervention ethical dilemmas. It is the fundamental nature of conversations like these to not only produce some discomfort, but also to offer opportunities for discussion, self reflection and learning. Ms. Ming has been a certified English teacher for a number of years. One of the commonest ethical issues in education is the choice of teacher a particular child or set of children will have in the following year. These dilemmas include subjects such as conflict with a co-worker and writing appropriate IEP goals. Ethical Theories and Their Use in Ethics Education. Javier’s parents are now divorced and he lives with his mother during the week; he stays with his father on the weekends. In an organization such as the school, basically there are three types of interpersonal relationships. Using a code of ethics can help teachers make informed decisions based on the code’s principles. The following ethical dilemmas are based on genuine situations faced by both veteran and novice teachers. This would expedite the process. Instead, there are numerous educational organizations that have written their own specific codes for ethical behavior. CECs code contains eight principles that guide professional behavior. All rights Reserved. According to this statement, Mrs. Michaels might be compromising her integrity if she knowingly violates the laws supporting special education and a student’s rights to access to those services. NAEYC Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Mr. Garrison is faced with a tough situation, because Javier’s mother and father don’t agree. Post this act, funds were given to states for the development of educational curricula for child… Additionally, he could show her the NEA’s Code of Ethics and discuss with her the ways in which she could maintain her personal beliefs without violating the district’s curriculum or her professional code of conduct. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). There is no one “right answer” to the complex situations teachers face each day, but grounding guidelines such as NEA’s or CEC’s Codes of Ethics provide teachers with a problem-solving framework. Code of ethics of the education profession. The principles presented below were drawn from NEA’s and CEC’s codes as the closest indicators related to the issues; they can be used as a starting point basis for solving each dilemma. This violates the validity of the test and could result in a false learning profile of his students. This code states “Special education professionals are committed to developing the highest educational and quality of life potential of individuals with exceptionalities” (Council for Exceptional Children, 2003. p.1). We then ask you to consider the possible solutions for these examples and ask you what you would do if faced with a similar situation. Although it would be difficult, Ms. Jackson may also decide to share the NEA’s code with her principal to explain her decision not to automatically discard the test results. The NEA code is organized into two main principles. Such issues usually ensue between the principal, school administration and parents of the children. The second principle is based on the commitment to the profession and public trust and responsibility. She has just attended a meeting about one of her students with a parent, a special education teacher, and a special education coordinator. What would you do? In extreme situations unethical behavior can result in a teacher losing his or her teaching position and/or certification. Furthermore, the delay in testing could be as long as one year. By presenting all the information to the members of the team, Mr. Andrews would be ensuring that Chris’s goals were truly written collaboratively by all team members. Read Dilemmas of Educational Ethics, edited by Meira Levinson and Jacob Fay. As stated earlier, there is no one “right answer” to the complex situations teachers face each day, but grounding guidelines such as NEA’s or CEC’s Codes of Ethics provide teachers with a problem-solving framework. These indicators are summarized in Table 2. She instructs Mr. Andrews to rewrite the goals so that they are “more appropriate.” Mr. Andrews believes that the goals are appropriate. Applying this indicator in the ethical code may prompt Ms. Jackson not to change the test results, because doing so would distort information relevant to this student’s progress. Ms. Jackson has been faced with a difficult situation. The first principle is based on the commitment to helping each student reach his or her potential and has eight indicators. Two predictable outcomes usually result from such an issue – the principal either reluctantly concurs to the parents’ request or he makes a blanket statement stating the policy against honouring parents’ opinion as regards the choice of teachers for a particular class. She has spoken to this student’s parent a number of times, and the parent agrees that her child may need further testing. With protection from harm as a guideline, Mr. Garrison could talk to Javier’s mother and explain that he is having trouble paying attention in class and completing assignments. Explore highly relevant sessions, led by industry’s and academic top experts. They are: student-teacher, teacher-parent and teacher-teacher relationships. Michael P. Brady (“CEC FL Federation), Professor, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. most important trends in modern education, especially in free time education, outdoor education and all types of after school care. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that implements fair choices in an effort to ensure the least amount of harm is done to all parties involved. Mrs. Michaels could decide that not following an appropriate timeline for testing would be unethical. (2003). To solve her dilemma. Opportunities for collaboration and reflection. Some of the goals include telling time to the hour, half hour, and quarter hour. If Mr. Andrews changes the goals he believes are appropriate in preparation for the IEP meeting, he may decide that he would be breaking this code. As shown earlier, one helpful way for leading an ethical case study discussion is to give students a guide, such as the “Seven Step Format for Ethical Decision Making” to help them think though the issues presented in a case. Mrs. Michaels is aware of the laws and regulations supporting special education and the timelines that are to be followed. According to NEA’s Code of Ethics under Principle II: Commitment to the Profession, Indicator Seven states that educators “shall not knowingly make false or malicious statements about a colleague” (NEA, 1975). Their school is preparing to take the state’s annual standardized achievement tests. At the IEP meeting, Mr. Andrews could share his IEP goals and his reasons for suggesting them and elicit comments and suggestions from the other members of the IEP team. This could include making a copy of the district’s guidelines and providing it to the school’s child study team. As a teacher, you may come across decisions that impact an individual’s entire life, from family to future. Ms. Garcia, a new teacher at the school, has additional certification in gifted education. What should Mr. Garrison do? Dedicated teachers devote a lot of attention, and anguish, to considering these ethical dilemmas. He is a new teacher, and the school psychologist has asked to see his suggested goals before the IEP meeting. She has begun to withhold Javier’s medication. Here we present several short vignettes of ethical dilemmas that both veteran and novice teachers have faced. While administering the test, Mr. Edwards realizes that Mr. Marcus is reading parts of the reading comprehension passages to the students. A complete listing of the CEC ethics and professional standards are found in the CEC publication What Every Special Educator Must Know: Ethics, Standards, and Guidetines for Special Educators (Council for Exceptional Children, 2003) and on the CEC Web site www.cec.sped.org. It acknowledges that decisions can have implications for, and effects on, the individual, the organisation and the community either directly or indirectly. Prior to this act, handicapped children had no other recourse but to attend general public schools and curriculum which were not appropriate given their special requirements. This might include collaboratively determining which portions of the curriculum they are best suited to teach and co- teaching portions of the unit. Such issues usually ensue between the principal, school administration and parents of the children. Mr. Gregory knows that the unit on evolution is a required part of the curriculum. Most teachers try to suppress these incidences because of the unpleasant feelings they evoke. Many organizations have review boards that monitor and enforce codes of professional standards (Webb, 2007). It has often been argued that examinations are not a true test of knowledge, as some students suffer from what is sometimes referred to as “examination fever”, where even a brilliant student finds it difficult to pass the simplest examination. Mrs. Michaels just faced a very tough meeting with her special education coordinator, and she is not sure what to do. Ms. Ming has been overheard making negative comments about Ms. Garcia’s teaching ability and about Ms. Garcia personally in the faculty lounge. The second chance policy does not necessarily mean one should spare the rod and spoil the child. IICE (Ireland International Conference on Education) Blog, (2017), Ethical Issues in Education – Barriers to Learning in Schools, https://www.iicedu.org/blog/ (Accessed Date: Insert the date). The IICE is an international refereed conference dedicated to the advancement of the theory and practices in education. Unethical behavior can ruin trust and respect between teachers and their colleagues. The data examined were written reflective statements of each of the 100 students’ ethical dilemmas. 2. see Figure 1 for a summary of these principles. March 31, 2021, Late Bird Registration Deadline Additionally, Mr. Garrison should document the issues he has observed in class, including class assignments and behavioral issues, in order to have specific information to provide to Javier’s parents that supports his belief that the medication has been academically helpful to Javier. What should Mr. Andrews do about his conflict with the school psychologist? What should he do? Additionally, the administrator informed the parent that if she elected to wait to have her daughter tested by the school district, they could not tell her when they could complete the testing and make an eligibility decision. Becoming a teacher. Ms. Jackson could use the NEA’s Code of Ethics Principle I: Commitment to the Student. Citation Read a short essay by Levinson on the intellectually challenging nature of education.