Ethics[2]

Ethical Decision Ethical Decision Making In EducationMaking In Education

Jennifer ButcherJennifer ButcherThe University of Texas – Pan The University of Texas – Pan

AmericanAmerican

Caring/KindnessCaring/Kindness GenerosityGenerosityToleranceToleranceCitizenshipCitizenshipInitiativeInitiativeConfidenceConfidenceCooperationCooperation LoyaltyLoyaltyCourageCourage PatiencePatienceDependability/ReliabilityDependability/Reliability RespectRespectPerseverancePerseverance FairnessFairnessResponsibilityResponsibility HonestyHonestyTrustTrust LoveLove

ResponsibilityResponsibilityRealm of ethics is concerned Realm of ethics is concerned

with active personal with active personal commitment commitment

(Kritsonis, 2007).(Kritsonis, 2007).

Responsibility entails:Responsibility entails:DependabilityDependability

Initiative Initiative AggressivenessAggressivenessSelf-ConfidenceSelf-ConfidenceDesire to ExcelDesire to Excel

TrustTrust

Trust is building confidence through Trust is building confidence through teamwork and open communication.teamwork and open communication.

Trust facilitates cooperation and Trust facilitates cooperation and promotes cohesiveness.promotes cohesiveness.

Trust is built by behavior that is Trust is built by behavior that is considerate, supportive, and considerate, supportive, and collegial.collegial.

““Trust is like air; no one thinks much Trust is like air; no one thinks much about it until it is needed and is not about it until it is needed and is not there.” - Hoy & Miskelthere.” - Hoy & Miskel

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

One who reads widely, attend One who reads widely, attend workshops and conferences, member workshops and conferences, member of professional associations, consult of professional associations, consult with colleagues, self-reflectionwith colleagues, self-reflection

SynnoeticsSynnoetics: ongoing commitment : ongoing commitment towards human association with towards human association with concern as well as seeking the well-concern as well as seeking the well-being of othersbeing of others

Searching for insight and training into Searching for insight and training into educational issueseducational issues

Effective Interpersonal Effective Interpersonal SkillsSkills

Develops strong binding interpersonal Develops strong binding interpersonal skills with students, parents and skills with students, parents and colleagues= trust between all memberscolleagues= trust between all members

SymbolicsSymbolics: symbolizes a way for : symbolizes a way for individuals to experience meaning individuals to experience meaning through communicationthrough communication

Effective communication derives from Effective communication derives from the principle that language is a source the principle that language is a source of power expressing various of power expressing various experiences of each individualexperiences of each individual

Environment of CareEnvironment of Care

Responsibility of educators to build Responsibility of educators to build care and compassion with the care and compassion with the communitycommunity

SynopticsSynoptics: a school environment of : a school environment of care values all members’ individual care values all members’ individual feelings and emotions into one feelings and emotions into one synopsis or single visionsynopsis or single vision

Educators have to make a conscious Educators have to make a conscious decision to study our past mistakes, decision to study our past mistakes, care for others, at the same time care for others, at the same time accommodate to the needs of the accommodate to the needs of the organization and the community.organization and the community.

Protect the Rights of Protect the Rights of StakeholdersStakeholders

Educators have a responsibility to Educators have a responsibility to protect and respect students’ protect and respect students’ individuality and acknowledge their individuality and acknowledge their right to make choices for themselvesright to make choices for themselves

EthicsEthics: these beliefs and choices of : these beliefs and choices of what is right and wrong lay the what is right and wrong lay the foundation for our civilization and foundation for our civilization and cultureculture

In order to demonstrate a sincere In order to demonstrate a sincere respect for each student’s self-worth, respect for each student’s self-worth, educators need to listen to students educators need to listen to students and consider their viewsand consider their views

Self-EvaluationSelf-Evaluation In order to self-reflect, choices can be In order to self-reflect, choices can be

determined to be good or bad, better determined to be good or bad, better or worse, depending on how caring is or worse, depending on how caring is demonstrated from all members.demonstrated from all members.

EthicsEthics: belief that everyone has the : belief that everyone has the logic to make the right choices and logic to make the right choices and decisions, and if one fails, he/she gains decisions, and if one fails, he/she gains a sense of guilt form within him/herself.a sense of guilt form within him/herself.

School community’s policies cannot be School community’s policies cannot be ethical, only individuals can make ethical, only individuals can make decisions that take into consideration decisions that take into consideration the policies that apply to a certain the policies that apply to a certain situation circumstancesituation circumstance

Ethical Decision Making to Ethical Decision Making to Improve Academic Improve Academic

AchievementAchievementAppropriate Scope of StudyAppropriate Scope of StudyMaximize Meanings Through Maximize Meanings Through

MasteryMasteryCurriculum Should be Broad and Curriculum Should be Broad and

DiverseDiverseCurriculum Should Provide MeaningCurriculum Should Provide MeaningAttain MasteryAttain Mastery

Appropriate Scope of Appropriate Scope of StudyStudy

According to Kritsonis (2007), scope of According to Kritsonis (2007), scope of study should include unique personality study should include unique personality of the student, social and cultural of the student, social and cultural context, and available resourcescontext, and available resources

Requires careful planning and ethical Requires careful planning and ethical decision makingdecision making

““High standards” – students are High standards” – students are expected to reach a predetermined barexpected to reach a predetermined bar

Implement creativity and individualityImplement creativity and individuality

Maximize Meanings Maximize Meanings Through MasteryThrough Mastery

Fulfillment lies within mastery Fulfillment lies within mastery and the depth of understanding.and the depth of understanding.

Curriculum should be relevant to Curriculum should be relevant to allall

Ultimate goal should be intensity Ultimate goal should be intensity of knowledgeof knowledge

Curriculum Should be Curriculum Should be Broad and DiverseBroad and Diverse

Students should gain an Students should gain an understanding in a variety of understanding in a variety of fieldsfields

Competence should be gained in Competence should be gained in a number of different activitiesa number of different activities

Use connection between culture, Use connection between culture, curriculum, home, and school to curriculum, home, and school to promote academic achievementpromote academic achievement

Attaining MasteryAttaining Mastery

The following elements are needed inThe following elements are needed in

helping students reach their mastery helping students reach their mastery goal:goal:

A healthy, safe learning environmentA healthy, safe learning environmentEncouraging and caring environmentEncouraging and caring environmentHigh standards of academic High standards of academic

achievementachievementFocus on students’ individual needsFocus on students’ individual needs

Why Should School Communities have Codes of

Ethics?

•Promote honorable behavior.

•Provide a basis for ethical behavior.

•Ensure effective operation.

•Morally ethical decisions.

Ethics is Everybody’s Business (Kritsonis, 2007).

Confidentiality and Integrity•Educators should not disclose confidential information unless obligated to do so by law.

•Educators should not use confidential information for advantageous gain.

•Educators should avoid activities which could impede performance of job duties in an ethical manner.

•Educators should refuse gifts, favors, or hospitality that would influence or would appear to influence another’s actions.

Professional Certification

Educators’ should…

•Maintain a level of competence.

•Seek knowledge.

•Develop and improve skills.

•Perform duties in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations.

•Prepare appropriately.

•Use only relevant and reliable information.

Financial Fraud

•Funds must be used appropriately and for intended purposes.

•A system should be in place to ensure financial honesty.

•Someone not directly related to the organization should assist in the monitoring financial spending.

•Rules, regulations, and consequences must be in place that are not

negotiable.

What are the What are the consequences of showing consequences of showing

unjustified favoritism unjustified favoritism within and educational within and educational

organization?organization?

Creates disenchantment and dissension Creates disenchantment and dissension among members and supporters.among members and supporters.

Informal Groups are created which Informal Groups are created which results in a negative and unproductive results in a negative and unproductive climate.climate.

Leaders are not supported or trusted.Leaders are not supported or trusted.

There should be acknowledged moral There should be acknowledged moral leaders, to whom many look for moral leaders, to whom many look for moral direction, guidance and inspiration. direction, guidance and inspiration. (Kritsonis, 2007)(Kritsonis, 2007)

ReferencesReferencesHoy, W. K. and Miskel, C. G. (2005). Hoy, W. K. and Miskel, C. G. (2005). Educational Administration. Educational Administration. New New

York, New York:York, New York: McGraw Hill. McGraw Hill.

Kritsonis, W. A. (2007). Kritsonis, W. A. (2007). Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of Ways of Knowing Through the Realms of MeaningMeaning. Oxford, England: Oxford Round Table.. Oxford, England: Oxford Round Table.

Martin, J. (2004, December). Martin, J. (2004, December). The Relationship Between Principals, The Relationship Between Principals, Ethics, and Campus Ratings.Ethics, and Campus Ratings. Retrieved October 1, 2006, from Retrieved October 1, 2006, from http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.tamu.eduhttp://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.tamu.edu

O’Neal, S. (2004). Individualized instruction for improved student O’Neal, S. (2004). Individualized instruction for improved student achievement – education’s ‘holy grail’. achievement – education’s ‘holy grail’. The JournalThe Journal, Retrieved , Retrieved September 20, 2006 from September 20, 2006 from

http://thejournal.com/the/printarticle/?id=16635http://thejournal.com/the/printarticle/?id=16635