Ethic_Code

The Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida by Diana Domínguez EDU 503 CRN 24033 Classroom Management and Organization Nova Southeastern University September 16, 2010 The Code of Ethics provides a set of rules and the highest principles and ideals of the education profession in Florida. The code provides a foundation and sets the standard according to the state law in order to assist in difficult situations of decision making, delineating conduct and setting proper professional practices. These set of codes, rules and principles must be abided by present and future education professionals not only because it guarantees and enforces professional behavior and practice, but also it encourages their leadership in the community inside and outside the classrooms as icons of superlative examples to follow. This assignment is based on the analysis of the principle: “The obligation to the students.” This principle will be analyzed through its nine sub principles and examples or scenarios will be given to explain how this Code of Ethics should be followed and applied by the educator. The first sub principle states “Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010).  The educator will be alert to protect students from dangerous situations that could affect their learning, mental health, physical health and/or safety such as motivation, lack of communication, use of drugs, alcohol, among others. For example, when the educator observes that a student is unenthusiastic with the activities in class, he or she must pay close attention to this particular student, try to define the problem, and make proper adjustments or corrections. If a student comes to class showing signs of sleepiness, fatigue or hunger, the educator should investigate through proper means the cause of the problem and solve it the best way possible. As soon as an educator realizes or suspects that a student has vision and/or hearing problems, he or she should make a recommendation or referral for their evaluation. The second sub principle dictates “Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). The educator should respect the student’s decision to learn through their own examinations and mistakes. Independent learning will help students to make decisions on their own, which in turn will boost self-confidence. The educator will provide all of the necessary tools for the students to achieve learning through the highest level, but it will keep the basic guidelines requested by the academic program. For instance, if a student wants to make a project that involves interviews and videos, then the educator will advise the student pointing out advantages and disadvantages, as well as recommending for security measures. If a student is planning on a project that involves interacting with an outside organization or company, the educator could contact this company or help by any mean possible to facilitate the way for the student to complete the project successfully. The educator shall have an open mind toward the way a student could venture into investigating a project. At the same time, the educator should be aware of any wrongdoing or improper practice without influencing the student’s way of thinking. The third sub principle: “The educator shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). Different points of view in a classroom enrich the scene of discussion and participation in learning. No educator has the right to prevent a student to express his or her personal opinion clearly, openly, and spontaneously. On the contrary, reinforcing or debating the ideas leads students to think about their own opinion. For example, an educator may discuss the opinions of his or her students about a specific topic; however the educator may not refute or contradict any personal opinions just because it does not match that of him or her. The fourth sub principle “Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). The educator will not hide or change any educational material. The educator will provide this material on a timely manner and without any restriction, as well as the source of information. For example, if an educator reads a book from the library or an article on the internet and considers that the information is useful to the students, he or she should share and recommend this source of information even though it may not be of his or her agreement. The academics guidelines and standards of Education must always be respected.   The fifth sub principle “Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). The educator will never create or incite any kind of situation where mocking and disrespect happens among students. On the contrary, the educator will try to control the situation and address the issue in a calmly manner explaining and educating the parties involved. For example, in the scenario of an obese student where there is a motive for mocking because of his or her physical condition, the educator shall intervene to solve the matter and call upon mutual respect among them. Due to the cultural diversity in the United States, there are several instances where religion, dress code, customs, and race can be motives for ridicule and disrespect. The educator should then try to solve the problem by explaining to the parties involved and promote respect amongst other cultures. The sixth sub principle “Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). Every student has legal rights. No educator will violate or deny these rights to them; on the contrary, he or she will comply with these rules. In the scenario of a student with low academic performance due to personal and/or family problems, the educator should refer the student to the school support team in order to provide appropriate interventions and be provided help to bring the student up to date with any material necessary for that class. The seventh sub principle “Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). Every human being has equal access and should be treated with respect regardless of race, religion, or cultural background. In a situation that a student is excluded from a group because of his or her race or sexual orientation, the educator should take advantage of the situation to reinforce respect to others and remind them that harassment or discrimination are penalized by law. On the other hand, the educator will stimulate consciousness and consideration towards others and promote tolerance and solidarity as essential components of our human society.  The eighth sub principle “Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010).  No educator will profit from his or her position to gain favors in exchange for personal benefits. For example, the educator should never offer to be a private tutor to a student in his or her class to get a pay for his or her services. On the contrary, the educator must always attend all students’ academic needs as an integral part of his or her daily work. The ninth sub principle “Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). Discretion and confidentiality must be a vital part of the educator. For instance, when a student has a personal problem and decides to talk to his or her teacher about it, the student expects attention, discretion and respect based on the confidence placed upon his or her tutor. However, the confidentiality and discretion is limited to when the student’s mental and/or physical health is at risk or in danger. An educator is considered a professional, respectful, and a support within the community and should maintain appropriate conduct. Given the fact that an educator must follow a strict code of conduct and is considered a public figure and a role model, he or she must follow such a code in order to avoid public humiliation. Without such guidelines, an educator may lose his or her credibility within the community and all they may have worked so hard for. I, Diana Dominguez, swear I have read, analyzed, and understood the Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida. I promise I will perform and abide by all of its principles to benefit students’ quality of life, the community, the profession of education, and society itself. I will guide the development of future generations’ potential based on the first principle of the Code of Ethics that states “The educator values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellent, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship.” (Florida Department of Education, 2010). If I do not comply with the requirements and expectations of such code, I will take responsibility for all of the consequences determined by the law. Reference Florida Department of Education. The code of ethics and the principles of professional conduct of the education profession in Florida. Retrieve September 01, 2010 from http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/code_of_ethics.asp