Professional Ethics in Education - Essay Example

Professional ethics in education affiliation Professional ethics in education Teaching is a profession with a lot ofethics. According to Ryan (2012), a teacher should be of very good morals and ethics. In recent years, the number of teachers has increased in the profession. This brings up the question among teachers. Bodies have been created with the purpose of streamlining the code of ethics in the teaching profession. These bodies come up with rules and regulation which govern the activities and responsibilities of teachers. One of the issues in the teaching profession is the issue of power in the profession. It is realistic for teachers to have powers in the field but the handling of the power is the problem. To what extent should teachers use their power?
Cases of teachers misusing their powers have risen. Some teachers may use their powers to exercise their personal interest. For instance, a teacher may favor a specific student for financial support or relationship favors. In an argument by Ryan (2012), many favors students do for teachers are not willingly. They do the favors in fear of consequences they might face. This is an example of misuse of power by teachers. However, in recent years, student bodies have been established which are aimed at minimizing cases of teacher­- student manipulation.
Another power experience in teaching is the ability to make decisions without being questioned. Sometimes teacher make decision without the consideration of the students needs. This is a breach to the rights of the students. In decision making all the concerned parties should be part of the deliberation (Higgins, 2011). With teachers taking advantage of their power and make decisions students have the right to protest the decisions. In every school there should be other bodies which help I the decision making in schools. With the neutral party, fairness and consultation is guaranteed (Robinson, 2005)
The management of power among teachers should be recommended. With growing concerns on the ethics of teachers, stakeholders should ensure the code of ethics I teaching profession is followed to the letter. Management of these powers means that teachers’ responsibilities and rights should be controlled. The rights of the students should also be outlined. To oversee the adherence to the rules, there should proper consequences for any breach (Higgins, 2011. With the outline of the rights of students the power in the teachers’ hands will be well managed. It will also give students’ the voice to air their grievances without manipulation by the teachers.
The management of the teachers will impact very positively in the education sector. The streamlining of the teachers’ ethics and morals will positively impact to the morality and performance of the students. According to Strike & Soltis (2004) without proper ethics the teaching profession will transform future generations to a society with no morality.
References
Higgins, C. (2010). The good life of teaching: An ethics of profession practice. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Robinson, S. (2005). The teaching and practice of professional ethics. London: Troubadour Publishing Ltd
Ryan, K. (2012). Those who can teach. London: Cengage learning.
Strike, K. & Soltis, J. (2004). The ethics of teaching. New York: Teachers College Press. Read More