Analysis of Code of Ethics

Jordan Schave

Saint Marys University of Minnesota

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

Portfolio Entry for Wisconsin Teacher Standards 9

EDUW 695 Ethics and Issues in Education

Kathi Stebbins-Hintz, Instructor

April 24, 2016

 Selected Wisconsin Teacher Standard Descriptors

Standard #9: Teachers are able to evaluate themselves.

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her

choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning

community), and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

Knowledge. The teacher understands critical frameworks for reflecting on teaching

practice (e.g. frameworks from social, cultural, and philosophical foundations of education).

Dispositions. The teacher recognizes his/her professional responsibility for engaging in

and supporting appropriate professional practices for self and colleagues.

Performances. The teacher articulates and defends a philosophy of education to guide

his/her practice and contributes to the stated philosophy of the school building/district.
 Danielson Domains

Domain 1: Planning and Preparation

Component 1b: Demonstrating Knowledge of Students

Domain 2: The Classroom Environment

Component 2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

Component 2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

Component 4e: Growing and Developing Professionally

Component 4f: Showing Professionalism

 I examined the National Education Association (NEA) Code of Ethics. The primary focus

of the NEA, is a great public school for every student. The NEAs Code of Ethics addresses

the teacher's commitment to the student in their first principle. They want students to be

respected, safe and educated to their maximum potential. Being able to make the students feeling

respected and safe opens the door for them to build a rapport with their teacher(s). This creates a

great learning environment, making the students experience extraordinary. The NEAs second

and final Principle was, Commitment to the Profession. In this section they want the educator to

be truthful about their professional qualifications and respectful towards colleagues. When a

teacher is stating their abilities accurately they are providing each student with a proper

education by fulfilling the district's needs.

The way that Principle l was constructed corresponded with a lot of my beliefs toward

how a teacher should be committed to the students. Society and people's views have changed a

tremendous amount over the past five years and the NEAs Code of Ethics was Adopted in 1975.

I think that it covers multiple areas of how a student should be treated fairly and with respect,

even if their views and beliefs are different. I also favor the NEAs Code focusing on

commitment to the students and the profession. It is broken up into two sections that are both

critical components.

Principle II addresses Commitment to the Profession is a key component to have in the

Code of Ethics, but some of the sub components were unfavorable in my opinion . Having four

out of the eight subcomponents focused on educators providing professional qualifications that

were not misleading was overabundant. Overall, the code should address situations with parents,

community, practice, and performance. The last thing that I disliked was the possible age of of
the code. There is no problem having a code that is over 40 years old, but I feel that the NEA

should consider reevaluating their Code of Ethics addressing the year of evaluation to the reader.

By adding a more current year, they are showing the reader that their beliefs are practical to the

current and ever changing society.

One of my ethical issues that was stated in my journal was: I had a student with very

tough behaviors and an undiagnosed medical condition at the time. After finding out that the

student might have been abused at home and contacting Social Services, I asked myself, should

I inform the guardians of the child's behavior at school or handle it by myself? Looking back at

my prior ethical decision of communicating the medical needs over behavioral issues at school to

the guardians in custody of the child was the proper choice. I was able to address the needs of the

student in a way that provided the guardians with information to have the student evaluated

instead of telling the parents that student did something uncontrollably and punished

inappropriately. My ethic decision was based off of Principle, l Commitment to the Student

subcomponent 4: Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to

learning or to health and safety.

 References

Code of Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://www.nea.org/home/30442.htm

Our Mission, Vision and Values. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from

http://www.nea.org/home/19583.htm