Topic 3- Being an Ethical Teacher

Dot Points

 Ethics is an important aspect in teaching

 Always show respect to students, staff and parents.
 Do not discriminate
 Become aware of your own values and belief of others
 Teachers are always making ethical decisions in their class room
 Helps to determine write or wrong
 Teaching duties, responsibilities and rights all have ethical issues associated with them
 Teachers need to understand all their students educational needs
 Need to provide equal opportunities for all students
 Need to be aware of the diversity of students
 Teachers need to understand the role parents play within their students
 Ethics has 3 types Metaethics, applied and normative
 Metaethics- A teachers morals can have an effect on ethics
 Applied -Ethics to actual problems eg; equality, legal, social
 Normative- figuring out what should be done
 Knowing the facts can't just be able to make a decision, ethical principles need to be used to
judge fact in order to make a decision
 Values can impact in what people believe is the right thing to do
 Teachers are required to meet professional ethics and responsibilities
 Teachers must understand and apply the codes of ethics
 If an incident occurs document everything which took place and as much information as you
can , speak to appropriate person and work out course of action together, follow cause of
action once implemented.
 Australian schooling promotes equality and excellent by not discriminating students against
their sex, religion, socioeconomics.
 Schools use experience to help their students
 Respects all diversity within the class room
 Personalised learning can help students learn in the class room
 Help teach students ethics by helping them manage context, conflict and uncertainty
 Help students develop awareness of values and beliefs of others and the impact these have
 Reflections

 Why is behaving ethically a responsibility for all educators?

It is important that all educators behave ethically toward both parents, teachers and
students as it helps teacher be professional and also creates positive relationships and
learning environments. Positive relationships and learning environments enhance student to
learn and grow. Teachers should show respect to all of their students no matter the
circumstances. Teachers who behave ethically have a clear understanding of what's right
and wrong has a good understanding of morals.

 Should there be a professional code of ethics, to which all teachers are required to adhere?
Would this create any dilemmas for the teaching profession?

If there was a code of ethics that all teachers have to follow I believe there may be issues for
the teaching profession as teachers come from many different backgrounds and hence have
different morals and beliefs that they follow. Having a code of ethics may make teachers
follow something and conduct something they don't believe. I feel if there is a problem in
relation to ethic at school, the teachers should approach a higher authority person and work
with them in relation to this issue this way they can discuss an appropriate solution.

 Is there a difference between ethics and the law? Is there a difference between ethics and
the law?

Yes there is a difference between ethics and the law. Ethics are a person's morals, values
and beliefs, which help people answer questions, like what should I do in this situation.
Ethical situations have no clear guidelines on what to do. However the law is a clear set of
rules which need to be followed and can have legal consequences if not followed.

 From ‘The Shape of the Australian Curriculum’ (pp1-28), note 5 points that stand out to you
that were important for the development of the Australian Curriculum and explain why.

1. Point 3 and 41 seem important as the introduction of the ACARA was introduced which
meant there was a national assessment program that helped measure students’
progress. This aided the identifying the strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum
2. Point 7 is important as all Australian Governments have committed to promote equality
and excellence in all young Australians. Therefore, helping them become successful
learners by providing resources and funding alongside giving all Australians
opportunities for employment.
3. Point 9 and 22 recognises that the curriculum has to evolve and change in the way
students learn and provide new resources.
4. Point 14 is teaching the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people, as well as promoting excellence from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people with regards to their education and creating equality within the school system.
5. Point 32 helps students set up valuable life skills which help them contribute actively in
decision making and planning within the work force and team environment.