Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

Mellissa Webb
Wesleyan College

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

As an educator, being ethical and moral are the backbone of teaching. Without ethics and
morality, an educator would not be doing his or her job correctly. An educator should always put
the needs of his or her students at the forefront of everyday teaching and maintain a professional
setting.
The Georgia State Code of Ethics states An educator shall always maintain a
professional relationship with all students, both in and outside the classroom. (The Code of
Ethics, p. 2) This means that in order to be ethical and maintain an appropriate learning
environment for your students, you must always keep the relationship between you and your
students professional. I have seen many great examples of this through my field experience in the
classroom. The teachers I have been able to observe and be in the same classroom with have all
kept a level of professionalism with their students that I use as an example as I am in their
classroom interacting with the students.
As stated in the Georgia State Code of Ethics, An educator shall exemplify honesty and
integrity in the course of professional practice. (The Code of Ethics, p. 3) If you are not honest
with your students then you are providing them with false information. Giving students false
information is hurting them as learners, not helping them or guiding them in the right direction as
learners. I find that just being honest with your students gains their trust and they are more likely
to want to learn from you. If I were to lie to my students and they figure out I did lie, they would
lose trust in what I say and would not be motivated to learn from me.
The Wesleyan College Educational Departments Conceptual Framework states that a
Wesleyan graduate will appreciate the impact of a classroom management plan in fostering a
positive climate that supports teaching and learning. I believe this is one of the most important
requirements of a classroom. Students need a positive, safe environment where they can learn

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

and have support when learning new content. If a student does not feel comfortable or safe, they
will not be able to focus or concentrate on any new topics that are expected of them. In order for
students to learn at their full capacity, they need positive support in their learning environment.
The Wesleyan College Conceptual Framework also states that the Wesleyan graduate
will appreciate the impact of learner development (physical, social, emotional, and cognitive) on
instructional decisions. This is very important to keep in mind while in the classroom. Teachers
should make changes to their curriculum based on the development of their learners in their
classroom while keeping a moral and ethical mentality.
Students always need an environment that feels safe and inviting to learn. As a teacher,
you are there to provide that environment for each student in your classroom. While creating a
safe and honest environment, educators must also keep a level of professionalism with ethics and
morals being at the root of it. Especially with young students, you are a role model for them of
which they can get their idea of what a moral and ethical person is supposed to be. Without you
as an educator showing them honest and ethical behavior, they most likely will not be exposed to
a professional environment where that is present. As an educator, awareness of what our actions
say is also a large part of how we teach our students as well.
As an educator, you must always administer tests ethically and fairly. This is included in
the Georgia State Code of Ethics. If a teacher were to unfairly administer tests, or give answers,
or even change answers to skew the results of a test in any way, they would be breaking the code
of ethics. They would also be hurting their students and creating an unsafe and negative learning
environment for their students. By hindering their students learning, they are not maintaining a
level of professionalism needed to correctly do their job. By unfairly administering tests, an
educator would be cheating their students of their right to learn and be taught correctly.

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

The Georgia State Code of Ethics also covers what it means to maintain professional
conduct. Keeping professional conduct in the classroom means being fully capable of doing your
job with no restrictions. Any behavior that is detrimental to their students well-being is
unprofessional and cannot be tolerated. This also relates to keeping a safe environment that
promotes learning for students. If an educator does not uphold a level of safety and positivity in
the classroom, they are not maintaining their students well-being.
As an educator, you are teaching your students not just subjects and content but also
correct behavior and expected social behavior. To do so, you must be ethical and have morals
that you can teach your students to have as well. Without a set morals and ethical behavior, you
would be unable to guide your students to having those needed beliefs as well. For example, if
you were not honest and your students noticed you were not being honest with them, they would
realize, they would not have to be honest either, since even their teacher lies. As an educator, you
are responsible for guiding your students and showing by example what is right and wrong.
I believe being an educator is one of the most important jobs of our society. Because it is
so important, it also means that as an educator, you must be ethical and have a correct set of
morals in order to properly educate the future citizens of our world. Without our ethical and
moral guidance and influence, I do not think our future citizens would be properly prepared for
life in any society. With our guidance, we are showing by example how to carry themselves in a
positive, responsible, and considerate way.
I have been witness to some questionable behavior by past teachers. All it has proven to
me is that being ethical and moral especially when dealing with students is one of the most
important aspects of the job of being a teacher. I want to create a safe, morally correct, and
ethical classroom where my students will be able to learn with the best opportunities. By holding

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

myself to a higher set of standards than I have witnessed means I will be leading my students by
example for what they need to do.
As a future educator, it is vital that my ethical and moral code are correct and true to help
shape my students into what they should be. Therefore, my ethical and moral code must follow
what I hope to construe to my students. I believe being honest, being fair, and creating a healthy
positive environment is the backbone to ensuring that happens.
Maintaining a level of professionalism in and out of the classroom is very important as
well. I believe anything that is posted online for anyone to see should also convey the message
you want to send to everyone. No matter the situation, you are always an educator, whether you
are at your school or not, that title stays with you. I believe you should always have a
professional portrayal of yourself whenever and wherever possible.

Dispositional Essay: Code of Ethics

References

Effective June 15, 2015 505-6-.01 THE CODE OF ETHICS. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14,
2016, from http://www.gapsc.com/Rules/Current/Ethics/505-6-.01.pdf
Moral Turpitude - GaPSC. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from
http://www.gapsc.com/Ethics/Downloads/moral_turpitude.pdf
Wesleyan College Educational Department's Conceptual Framework. (2016).