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Running Head: MY ETHICAL DISPOSITION

My Disposition on Ethics

Aaminah Durham

Wesleyan College

This paper was prepared for EDU 201, taught by Professor Wilcox
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MY ETHICAL DISPOSITION
Ethics are defined as a set of moral principles that govern a persons behavior. We all are

guided by some type of principles, defined or undefined. They can be religious or simply beliefs

we form from life experiences and the interactions with people around us. People generally share

the same principles on what is right and wrong and are usually compelled to guide themselves by

and hold others accountable to these principles. However, there are those that may get off track

or simply dont care and breach these principles causing harm to themselves and others around

them.

As an educator, it is especially important that you be morally sound because you deal

with young, developing minds on a daily basis. Children are very impressionable and look up to

their teachers as role models. Therefore, educators should exemplify a high standard of moral

character whenever in or out of the presence of their students. This ensures that teachers maintain

a professional relationship with their students, not limiting teacher-student interaction but

protecting the overall well-being and safety of both parties. I also believe that if an educator is a

good example for her students then she can more easily hold her students responsible for their

ethics.

I believe that educators should use morality and ethics in every aspect of their lives, not

just at school. If they are practicing upstanding conduct everyday with their families, friends, and

other associates outside of school, then I would presume this would make a teacher a less likely

candidate to commit an indecent and immoral act in an educational setting. I would hate to

discover that as parent I am sending my child to a teacher who only holds herself to high

standards when she plays the role of educator, but when away from school she engages in

unethical behavior.
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MY ETHICAL DISPOSITION
Growing up my in parents household, I was taught to practice good character and morals

at home first so that when I went abroad among others it was second nature to show good

manners. In other words, you werent faking. The code of ethics and moral turpitude should be

applied in our everyday lives so that when the time comes to make a decision in regards to

ethics, it will not be difficult to make the right choice. Also, having strong religious values can

make an educator morally sound. When you believe in God, you are more conscious of making

the right choices because you want to please Him and keep your soul pure and untainted.

It is sad that a code of ethics has to even be written because this indicates that at some

point someone did what the code warns not to do. However, when dealing with children, there is

little room to be reckless. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a code of ethics that defines what

is considered morally right and wrong. More specifically, it defines the professional behavior of

educatorsand serves as a guide to ethical conduct. This ensures that educators are aware of

what it morally acceptable in their role and know that if any aspect of the code is broken they

will face the consequences.

The code of ethics not only warns against behavior that society deems as unacceptable

but gives guidelines for an educators good intentions to prevent conduct that could be deemed

unethical. For example, a teacher may want to offer tutoring to a student. According to the code

of ethics, this is acceptable as long as the teacher does not accept payment from the student. The

code of ethics also leaves room for improvement. The punishments allow benefit of the doubt as

the educator is initially warned. If further offenses are committed, the reprimand becomes more

severe.
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MY ETHICAL DISPOSITION
Furthermore, the code of ethics places a responsibility on an educator to take a stand and

report any unethical behavior that he or she witnesses. This again ensures the safety of both

teachers and students and prevents further issues from arising. Adhering to the codes of ethics

means you respect yourself and those around you. Maintaining high character while serving in

your position makes it easier to focus on the values that really matter when running a classroom

and interacting with the children.

I also believe, however, that a teacher should not put herself into a box and limit herself

because of guidelines that are put in place. Guidelines are there to do just as it says-guide-, but it

is still up to the teacher to keep an open mind and use her own good judgment because every

child is different and special circumstances may arise. There have been numerous instances

where a teacher was faced with a choice that may have violated the code but was necessary in

order to meet the needs of a particular student.

When a teacher is morally sound, she can put her attention on fostering a positive

climate that supports teaching and learning as outlined in the conceptual framework. Ethics also

plays a role here. A teacher is not only concerned about whether the student learned whatever

subject she taught them, but he or she is also concerned with the character and well-being of their

students. If an educator truly cares about those under her care then she will do her best to guide

them by a moral compass and stress the importance of making the right choices.

Teaching ethics as well as the subjects, I believe, will turn out better students overall and

the students get the sense that their teacher cares for them beyond just teaching concepts. This

practice in turn produces students who are better prepared to integrate into society as they have

already learned the importance of good character, sound judgment, and work ethics. This is often
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MY ETHICAL DISPOSITION
the case of those among us who we look up to as successful role models. They may come from

poor means and unfortunate circumstances but they built their careers upon a strong foundation

of ethics whether it was in credit to their parents, a guardian, or a teacher.

Being an educator is an honorable profession. Teachers should be held in high esteem in

the same way we hold judges, police officers, and doctors. We are shocked and devastated when

we hear of people in these positions commit crimes that violate moral turpitude. The same

reaction is warranted in regards to educators. Any educator should be a person I could emulate

myself after in terms of being a good example of a human being and citizen. This is not to say

they are perfect, but they are decent role models.

Being a good example for your students is not an option. Its a responsibility that

educators owe themselves, their profession and peers, and of course the children whom they

serve. We should never have to worry about sending our children to school and they being

violated in some way by the people we entrust them with or concerned about an educator using

their position for personal gain in ways that put others in harms way.

I, personally, dont have much experience with teachers due to my being homeschooled

but I do know that if I was to go to school outside of my home, my parents would want to be sure

that the teacher I was under was of good moral character. The teachers we have help to shape

and mold us just as our home lives do. Therefore, educators should always keep ethics at the

forefront of their minds so that they maintain a professional relationship and professional

conduct, leaving no room for suspicion.