Ethics for Educators

Ethics for Educators

Educators are to be accountable on a higher level of behavior than other professionals. In many instances, students look up to teachers as role models, authority figures, and behavioral examples. All staff, administrators, teachers and coaches are expected to reinforce sound moral choices and lead by example. Each individual that is a part of the school system should be accountable to what the student picks up morally because they are truly taught by actions. Ethical conduct must drive the decisions educators make at all times.

One of the main responsibilities of the teacher is to take care of the student by fostering a safe learning environment for the student. This notion can be wrapped up into one single term...ethics. Ethics for early childhood professionals can be defined as one's responsibility to support children without harm while simultaneously reaching challenging yet achievable goals (NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, 2011). The standards are so high for educator's that laws have been put in place governing the educator's responsibility. For example, the Negligent Tort Law surrounds the circumstances "in which the wrongdoer as a prudent man should have foreseen that such an effect was probable enough to warrant foregoing the conduct or guarding against its consequences" (Whittier, 1902). The law simply means that a teacher could be held responsible for an issue that could have been caused if the teacher had been overseeing the child properly and exposing problems as they occur.

The code of conduct strictly states a teacher has a greater responsibility which is to protect. This encompasses taking all precautions to insure the students are properly supervised and has adequate care when away from the home. For example, locally a student was murdered when she left the grounds of her school with two supposed male friends. The student was supposed to be in extended care but was allowed to leave the school and the mother is holding suit against the school for being negligent and demanding to know why she was not being monitored (First Coast News, 2011). It's almost as if the parents were in charge, she would not have been allowed to leave the house with two guy friends. In addition to preventing accidents from happening while in the teacher's watch, teachers themselves must communicate any abuse or any mistreatment that is related even if they presuppose something of the sort is happening. Being involved in such a manner is directly in compliance with the child's state of being and welfare.

Purposeful teachers are persons who selected their careers based on a need to make a positive difference. The National Association for the Education of Young Children recognizes that childhood is a exclusive and treasured state in the human life cycle (NAEYC, 2011). It coincides directly with the Florida Code of Ethics for