Ethical Practices in Teaching
Our ethics are, essentially, our conscious. Ethics are the contexts within which we judge right from wrong. Ethics and morals are often grouped together. Ethics are necessary in all walks of life, but ethical teaching is a specific thing. Ethical teachers want what is best for their students. Ethical teachers behave in a professional manner in the classroom and when interacting with colleagues.
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Standards
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The best teachers apply the same standards to all of their students. Students from underprivileged backgrounds or low socio-economic status should not have lower standards and expectations set for them than wealthier students. An ethical teacher does not show personal bias for or against any race, religion or background of his students; an ethical teacher works to help all students master the material.
Standardized Testing
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Standardized testing has become more important since the No Child Left Behind Act went into effect. Ethical teachers do communicate with students and parents ahead of time that there will be a test. They do more than just go over the material that students will be tested on. Ethical teachers work with students on stress-management skills and best test-taking skills and strategies. Truly ethical teachers set up the test environment to give their students the best chance at success.
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Commitment to the Student
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Ethical teachers treat their relationships with their students with professional care. They respect confidential information and do not deliberately nor carelessly embarrass any student. They also do not seek any personal gain from the relationship with the student.
Ethical teachers know that their obligations to their students include allowing students to explore different ideas by studying varying points of view. They encourage independent study and attempt to make resources available to students; an ethical teacher does not hold a student back.
Commitment to the Teaching Profession
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The National Education Association's (NEA) statement on ethical standards for teachers states, "the educator shall exert every effort to raise professional standards, to promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgment, to achieve conditions that attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education..." Part of being an ethical teacher is being an ethical professional person. Ethical teachers show respect for other teachers and for administrators. They practice polite and moral behavior. For example, they do not make false statements about colleagues.
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