Hi, this is Julie. For our next class, I'll lead the discussion of chapter 1 of Strike's The Ethics of Teaching. In addition to this chapter, please read the article I’m emailing you titled “Teachers' perceptions of the frequency and seriousness of violations of ethical standards.” Here are a few questions to consider for our discussion Wednesday:
On page 4, Strike makes the point that moral relativism gets in the way of objective discussions of professional ethics. Do you agree with the author that questions of ethics can be objectively discussed and morally justified, or do you believe what is right for one person isn't necessarily right for another? Explain your reasoning.
Consider the cases at the end of chapter 1. How would you respond in these situations? Are your conclusions based on a consequentialist theory, a nonconsequentialist theory, or some other form of reasoning?
In the journal reading, the authors call for the development of a national code of teacher conduct. Do you think this is necessary? Why or why not? Do you agree with the authors that the NEA Code of Ethics falls short?
Our class has people coming from a variety of occupational backgrounds. Think about the fields you've worked in before and the ethical dilemmas you may have faced there. How are these similar or different from the ethical issues you will face as an educator? Should educators be held to different standards than those in other fields?
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Okay, this is my second + attempt, I keep getting kicked out of the system. I am a nonconsequentialist. I believe that if you are active in a group of individuals, if they have a certain set of ethics, you agree to them in order to paricipate in the group. I guess you could call it an operating agreement. I work for a company that has specific beliefs on ethical behavior in the workplace. THey even have a value wheel they explain at orientation. You are then given a value wheel to keep. I know that we will all struggle with ethical issues, but most people have those set ethics "you should not kill", lying is bad etc. I am firm believer in playing by the rules, even if you lose because you did.
I agree with Billie, I am also a nonconsequentialist and it probably stems back to my childhood when I always had a fear of disappointing my family, especially my parents and getting in trouble. I also believe by playing by the rules, and giving 110% at everything you do because you represent yourself, your family and your friends and you need to present as best you can.
I grew up going to church, playing on several sports teams as well as in a family with two brothers and my parents always taught us to be honest and that our integrity was the most important value. Be true to your word, and always treat others the way you would like to be treated. This chapter to me was a lot of common sense but to others it may have a different impact. I served on honor and discplinary committees both in high school and college as a peer evaluator where student's cases were brought in front of a panel of faculty, staff and students and together we voted on the outcome of the case (i.e. explusion, suspension, community service, whether or not a student failed a course or needed to rewrite the paper). As a committee member I was faced with many different scenerios that I had to vote on the outcome that drastically effected a peer's life. Despite the fact that I may have never met the student, or had been in classes and known them well I had to make an "ethical" decision based on the facts. I learned to not hold any bias and for me what my standards of right and wrong were.
As far as the article Julie found to go along with Strike Chapter 1, I whole-heartedly agreet that a Teacher's code of ethics needs to be developed to protect those that follow it, establish professional guidelines for training as well protect the public against those who do not follow it. Especially with the latest abuse of power by teachers, it is important we have something in place to protect ourselves and our students. In regards to subjectivity, it will be extremely hard to regulate this aspect of an ethics code, but I do believe it is a major issue that needs to be addressed.
At first I thought that a Teachers Code of Ethics would almost be impossible to implement but after our discussion in class I find that having a Code would be a good thing for teachers. Right now I find that a lot of teachers will do anything to make sure their students will pass because of the No Child Left Behind Act. These teachers are maing unethical decisions because of this Act and I believe that we need to hold our teachers and future colleagues at a high standard as we should our students.
Based on what we discussed in class, I am extremely overwhelmed with the fact that schools get blamed for everything. I believe that if people want to blame the schools they need a reason to do so and since there is no Code of Ethics to hold teachers too, then the finger can not be pointed at the schools. With the Code of Ethics, teachers I believe will take more responsibility and if not, should not be teaching.
I agree will Billie when she says that she plays by the rules when sometimes playing by the rules makes you the loser. Being a coach I am put in a lot of different situations that test my ethical decision capabilities. Making a decision based on an ethical issue is one of the hardest decisions you have to make but in the end I believe no matter which side of the solution you choose you become a better person. For example if you choose to be unethical them you have consequences and you hopefully learn from those consequences but if you choose the other side, you may be the loser but you know you did the right thing. The hardest thing about ethics is choosing whether to be selfish or not. That is something I struggle with a lot. I try to not be selfish but their are times when I need to be selfish in order to do what is ethical.
To another note, I agree with Pope in that I am both a nonconsequentialist and consequentialist. I am the same as Amy when I did or didn't do a lot of things in fear of disappointing my family. But I also want to be respected as though I would respect that person. I find it hard to believe that in all situations you are either a nonconsequentialist or a consequentialist.
Now to Dewey.. On page 322 he says "it is a part of any humane culture to be concerned to see that others share in it". I find this to be so true. Today so many people are concerned about what others think that sometimes others almost "make" decisions for other people. I know growing up I may have said or done something because others wanted me to or I knew I would feel some kind of connection with a friend for doing it, whether it was right or wrong. I think it is important to think of others but they shouldn't control whether you do or say something or not. I will say that this Dewey piece was one of the hardest to understand!
PS: Im listening to Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana as I write this!
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