The Ethical Teacher

Module Objectives

Activities in this module will examine the teaching profession and the role that ethics play in teachers’ behaviors and their decision-making. Estimated time to complete: 60-80 minutes.

This module is related to NEE Indicator 8.3

At the end of this module, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the ethical responsibilities of teachers.

  2. Explain how ethics inform a teacher's personal and professional actions.

Activities and Tasks

Review the activities below.

Professional Practices link 1
1. What Are Ethics?
Professional Practices link 2
2. What Are the Origins of Ethics?
Professional Practices link 3
3. How Do Ethics Relate to Teachers?
Professional Practices link 4
4. How Do Professional Ethics Affect Decisions?

 

Additional Resources

  1. Ethics statements (PDF) collected and offered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 

  2. Kansas Educator Code of Conduct (PDF)

  3. New York State Code of Ethics for Educators (PDF)

  4. California Code of Ethics of the Teaching Profession

  5. Works on Ethics, Moral Development, and Education

    • Campbell, E. (2003). The Ethical Teacher.  Philadelphia:  Open University Press.

    • Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on Moral Development:  The Philosophy of Moral Development.  New York:  Harper Collins.

    • Gilligan, C. (1982). In A Different Voice.  Cambridge, MA:  Harvard University Press.

    • Goree, K., Pyle, M., Baker, E. & Hopkins, J.(eds) (2007). Education Ethics Applied.  Boston:  Pearson Education.

    • Pring, R. (2001). Education As A Moral Practice.  Journal of Moral Education, 30(2): 101-112

    • Staratt, R. (2004). Ethical Leadership. San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

  6. Missouri Law Review, Vol. 77 p. 856. Community Standards VS Teacher Rights (PDF)