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Maria Cristina M. Del Cano

Prof. Gerardo Mariano
COM536M Ethics, Standard, and Public Policy
05 December 2015

A Proposal for a Code of Internet Ethics for Teachers in St. Paul College of Makati

Abstract:
This research paper focuses on the apparent need for a definitive Code of
Internet Ethics for Teachers in St. Paul College of Makati. Concerns discussed include:
internet abuse and misuse in the work place, and social media etiquette for teachers in
a Catholic institution. A proposed ethics code may be found in this paper as well.
Further study on appropriate sanctions on specific violations in the code should still be
done.

I. Introduction
St. Paul College of Makati (SPCM), a Catholic school managed by the Sisters
of St. Paul of Chartres, looks after the welfare of its employees, as stated in its
Employees Manual:
The general welfare of the employees is given focus with the different
provisions that guide them in their discharge of respective duties, assure
them of their basic rights as employees, and provide them the necessary
benefits to have meaningful employment.

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Included in the benefits is unlimited internet access given to all its employees.
It is expected that this resource would be used for professional purposes.
Employees are given usernames and passwords of their choice to gain internet
access. This too helps the IT Personnel monitor the websites visited by employees.
However, since no specific sanction is given for those who misuse the internet
during work hours, employees can easily get away with it.
Internet abuse and misuse in the workplace has been causing companies
large sums of money, aside from counter-productivity. A study conducted in the
United States by Websence, Inc, an internet management company based in San
Diego, revealed that 50% of surveyed workers admitted to using the internet for
personal purposes during work hours. At an average 5.9 hours a week for personal
internet usage at work, when multiplied to around 34 million employees and their
average basic pay, US companies are estimated to lose around $ 178 billion per
year.
As a Catholic institution, SPCM upholds the core values of Christcenteredness, Charity, Charism, Community, and Commission. Each employee is
expected to have his/her values in line with the establishments values, so as to
avoid conflict of interest. Display of appropriate conduct should be observed in and
out of the campus, and especially, in social media.
Teachers are at risk of exposure in social media. Articles in Washington Post,
CBC News, and National Education Association tell of teachers who have gone
overboard with their social media use, posting derogatory remarks on administrators
and students, photos that imply a level of indecency, and others unbecoming of

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professional teachers. Such instances malign not only the teachers themselves but
also the schools where they are hired.
The concerns discussed have been occurring in St. Paul College of Makati.
Incidents may or may not have reached the administrators, and very few are
sanctioned since there are no specific provisions to cover the aforementioned
issues. Hence, this paper seeks to expound on the relevance of having a defined
code of internet usage ethics, specifically for teachers in the institution, and push for
its implementation. The researcher believes that having detailed guidelines on the
aforementioned issues would help teachers, especially those who do not understand
the risks. This may also be helpful to the administrators so they can monitor their
faculty better.

II. Literature Review

A. Internet Abuse and Misuse in the Workplace
Using the internet for other purposes than work, or cyberslacking, is
rampant in different parts of the globe. Peter Saalfield, in his article in
Infoworld.com shares that in the United States alone, approximately $ 178 billion
is lost due to employees who use the internet for personal reasons. The most
popular activities were reading the news, checking personal e-mail, online
banking, travel, and shopping.
Internet monitoring is a way by which employers could keep track of their
employees internet usage. This move, however, raises the issue of privacy. In
his article at SmallBusiness.Chron.Com, Frances Burks said:

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Internet monitoring in the workplace may put employers and employees
at odds because both sides are trying to protect personal interests.
Employees want to maintain privacy while employers want to ensure
company resources aren't misused. In any case, companies can maintain
ethical monitoring policies by avoiding indiscriminate monitoring of
employees' online activities.
Even in the early 2000s, incidents of internet abuse has already been
recorded. Samuel Greengard shared the result of his findings in his article at
Workforce.com:
A January 2000 study by the Saratoga Institute found that nearly twothirds of U.S. firms have disciplined employees for Internet abuse, and
slightly less than a third have actually terminated workers. Fifty-six percent
admit they know of employees whose the Internet to gamble, look at
pornography, and engage in other activities that are not work-related.
Meanwhile, a 1999 study by the American Management Association found
that more than 50 percent of all Internet activity taking place within
companies is not business-related. The total cost? Billions of dollars a
year in lost productivity.
In SPCMs Employees Manual, this may be vaguely classified in Chapter
IX Section 2.2: Offense against Property:
Unauthorized use of school materials and/or equipment for personal and
commercial purposes

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It may also fall under Section 2.4: Offenses against Professionalism
Engaging in other activities not required by the particular job

B. Teachers on Social Media

In his article at CBA.Ca, Geoff Barlett calls social media a minefield for
teachers. Heather Smith, president of the Canadian Teachers Foundation said:
"Whatever you put on social media, you have to make sure it's not
something you want to see on the front of a newspaperIf it's not
something you want to see publicly posted, it shouldn't be on there."
In the same article, he relates the experience of a young teacher who got
fired from her job because a parent found a picture of her online with two drinks.
Privacy settings are of no use, since anything posted in cyberspace remains
online forever. This information is backed up by Dr. Jerome Delaney, teacher of
legal education courses of Memorial University of Newfoundland. She said in an
interview with Barlett:
My advice to [future teachers] would don't say anything there, or don't put
up pictures on these things that you wouldn't be comfortable showing in
the classroom once it's out there, it doesn't come back."
In his article in Washington Post, Ian Shapira tells of the story of Erin Jane
Webster, a substitute-teacher in Prince William. She has caught fire because of
bumper stickers found in her social media page which said Youre a retard, but
I love you she was teaching students with emotional and learning disabilities.

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In the Employees Manual of SPCM, this may be classified under Chapter
IX Section 2.5: Offenses against the School:
Indecent exposure of any individual or group in social media that will
jeopardize the schools reputation

III. Method
For this paper, the researcher conducted library research. She sought for
varied sources, mostly online, for specific concerns on tendencies for copyright
infringement for online sources, internet abuse and misuse in the work place, and
social media etiquette for teachers in a Catholic institution.
She sought guidance from the Assistant Academic Head and Instructional
Services-in-Charge of St. Paul College of Makati, and her Ethics professor in De La
Salle University Manila.

IV. Results and Discussion

Aside from the sources identified, the researcher benchmarked on two
projects for an ethics class from the University of Illinois, namely Code of Computer
Ethics for Educators by Bates, Engel, et al., and Code of Technology Ethics for
Educators by Barcalow, Creech, et al. The researcher also consulted the Code of
Ethics for Professional Teachers in the Philippines.
As a result, the researcher would like to propose a Code of Internet Usage
Ethics for the Faculty Members of St. Paul College of Makati.

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Code of Internet Usage Ethics
for the Faculty Members of St. Paul College of Makati

Preamble
St. Paul College of Makati, as a Catholic educational institution, upholds the five
Paulinian Core Values of Christ-centeredness, Charity, Charism, Community, and
Commission. As front liners and primary role models to the students, teachers are
expected to live out these values in and outside of the campus. This code seeks to
provide definite guidelines for proper internet usage while in the school premises
and appropriate conduct in social media.

Section 1: Internet Usage during Work Hours

1. SPCM provides internet access to its employees, thus, they are trusted to use
the resource judiciously and appropriately.
2. Teachers are to use the internet solely for professional purposes, such as
researching for teaching aids, uploading lessons in Genyo, etc.
3. Emails should be checked regularly for e-announcements from the middle
managers and the administration.
4. Especially during work hours, teachers must avoid surfing the internet for
personal reasons.
5. Teachers may be permitted to use the internet for professional research.
However, work-related tasks must be given priority.

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Section 2: Appropriate Conduct in Social Media
1. As a Catholic institution, SPCM enjoins its employees to display decency in and
off campus, and especially in social media.
2. Teachers are not encouraged to be friends with students on social media, but
they are not prohibited.
3. Teachers are expected not to post the following online:
a. Statements that are derogatory or in conflict with the values of the institution
(e.g. curse words, ill comments regarding any employee, administrator,
student, or parent);
b. Indecent photos (e.g. wearing revealing clothes and swim wear, drinking
liquor or smoking, posing with inappropriate gestures)
c. Status updates or photos that malign other individuals and institutions
4. Teachers must maintain professional communication between them and their
students.
5. Teachers must not access their social media accounts during official time.

V. Conclusion/Recommendations
While the researcher strongly suggests that the proposed Code of Internet
Ethics for the Faculty Members of St. Paul College of Makati be considered for
implementation, it is still subject for revision and approval from the administrators.
Further studies on corresponding sanctions, upon the recommendation of the
administrators should still be done. More than using the code of ethics as a form of
threat, it is suggested that positive reinforcement should be used instead.

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VI. Works Cited
Greengard, Samuel. "Internet Misuse Costs Businesses $178 Billion Annually."
InfoWorld. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.
Burks, Frances. "Ethical Issues & Employer Monitoring Internet Usage." Small
Business. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.
Bartlett, Geoff. "Why Social Media Can Be a Minefield for Teachers - Newfoundland
& Labrador - CBC News." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 9 Sept. 2015. Web. 5
Dec. 2015.
Shapiro, Ian. "When Young Teachers Go Wild on the Web." Washington Post. The
Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2008. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.
Bates, Jason, Brian Engle, Gretchen Halasi-kun, Jenny Kiacshcko, Todd Mickley,
and Josh Norman. "Code of Computer Ethics for Educators." Code of Computer
Ethics for Barcalow, Tamara, Melissa Creech, George Gerrietts, Mike Marassa,
Paulette Sallas, Marty Sierra-Perry, and Bryan Weinert. "Code of Technology Ethics
for Educators." Code of Technology Ethics for Educators. Web. 5 Dec.
2015.Educators. Web. 5 Dec. 2015.
St. Paul College of Makati Employees Manual. St. Paul College of Makati, 2014.
Print.