Goal 8: Professionalism

Educators develop and maintain professional, moral, and ethical attitudes, behaviors,
relationships, and habits of mind.

As an educator, it is my responsibility to continuously strive to learn more about my

world, and to contribute what I’ve learned back to others. Michael Fielding, a professor at the

University College of London, wrote,“…responsibility is primarily a moral, not a technical or

contractual notion.” (Fielding, 2001, p.699) Responsibility is not easily evaluated, it’s part of

who we are, what drives us, and how we think. The following hyperlink,

https://www.aklib.net/wp-abak/, is an annotated list of Alaskan children books that I helped

evaluate for a community project in the class ALST 603: Alaska Literature and Young People at

the University of Alaska, Southeast. I felt that this project for Alaska Books for Alaska Kids,

ABAK, really exemplified one of my best bodies of work because of how distinctly it my

contribution represents who I am as an educator and my commitment to my world and

profession.

Part of my responsibility as an educator is to give people access to knowledge, they

wouldn’t have access to otherwise. The ABAK website was designed to help link people to

Alaskan literature to inspire and educate people from all over the world about Alaska and the

north. “Alaska Books for Alaska Kids is a collaborative project by librarians and educators to

compile an up-to-date, accessible, and useful bibliography of accurate, culturally relevant,

recommended books for youth about Alaska and the North.” (https://www.aklib.net/wp-abak/ )

Part of my professional code requires that I never stop learning and that I cultivate that

desire to never stop learning into my classroom as well. “My professional passion sounds like

this: I’m passionate about creating lifelong learners… increasing self-esteem… having students
leave my class with a larger vision of what is possible.” (Burgess, 2012, p.6) My contribution to

the ABAK project is one example of a way to help support others become lifelong learners by

providing new resources and advocate for students to keep learning. “I am passionate about not

letting them (students) fall victim to horrific educational trends…” (Burgess, 2012, p.6) As

educators, we must lead by example and refuse to give up.

Harriet Martineau, a nineteenth-century feminist and abolitionist once said, “What office

is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications, and which

ought, therefore, be more honorable than that of teaching?” My contribution to ABAK required

many hours reading, analyzing, critically evaluating, and fairly judging pieces of literature. Just

as in the classroom, the book evaluations, required me to consider a multitude of variables before

creating an assessment. Education also requires that professional and fair mentality, as we look at

all sides of the situation before evaluating its condition.

It an honor to be part of a profession that has such high standards, level of responsibility,

and that touches so many lives. “Society has entrusted teachers with its most important

responsibility: the education of its young.” (Ryan & Cooper, 2013, p. 480) Educators need to

continuously collaborate, contribute what we’ve learned so others can benefit, live by a code of

ethics, never stop growing as lifelong learners, and give up on those who desire to learn. Even

though this profession demands 100% of my energy, there is not a more noble and rewarding

profession on Earth. I am proud to be a teacher.

 Resources:

Burgess, D. (2012). Teach like a pirate: Increase student engagement, boost your creativity, and
transform your life as an educator, 6. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting.

Fielding, M. (2001). OFSTED, Inspection and the betrayal of democracy. Journal of Philosophy
of Education, 35(4), 695-709. doi:10.1111/1467-9752.00254

Martineau, H. (1839). Society in america. (2nd ed., vol. 3.) London, UK: Saunders and Otley.

Spangler, K., Dryver, S., & Graves, S. (n.d.). Alaskan books for alaskan kids. Retrieved July
17, 2019, from https://www.aklib.net/wp-abak/.

Ryan, K. & Cooper, J. (2013). Those who can, teach. (13th ed.) 480. Belmont, CA: Wasdworth
Cengage Learning.