10 September 2009
Code of Ethics Standards
Standard 1: Professional Conduct
An educator should demonstrate conduct that follows generally recognized professional standards.
Ethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Encouraging and supporting colleagues in the development and maintenance of high standards.
• Respecting fellow educators and participating in the development of a professional and supportive teaching environment.
• Engaging in a variety of individual and collaborative learning experiences essential to developing professionally in order to promote student learning.
Unethical conduct is any conduct that impairs the certificate holder’s ability to function in his or her employment position or a pattern of behavior that is detrimental to the health, welfare, discipline, or morals of students. Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Harassment of colleagues.
• Misuse or mismanagement of tests or test materials.
• Inappropriate language on school grounds.
• Physical altercations.
• Failure to provide appropriate supervision of students.
The Leader in Me
Stephen R. Covey
Questions to consider for Chapter 1
Why do people doubt that great things can happen in our schools?
What are the differences in primary greatness and secondary greatness?
What are three important themes to look for in the book?
Our goal is to look at one chapter each month over the course of the school year through next June. There will be no “required reading” and no tests, but I do hope to see some connections to what we are doing with the Alabama Code of Ethics for Educators and our own 7 Habits training.
Chapter 1 of LEADER IN ME provides an interesting look at the concept of organizing a school around expectations and a view of A. B. Combs in particular. It's also interesting to check out the video clips from the school on the Leader in Me website to see students and staff offering insight into the culture at the school. I wonder how individual decisions would be impacted for life after having attended a school organized in this way. It's clear to me that a connection to issues of ethics would be evident, hopefully impacting in a positive way!
ReplyDeleteAlthough there has been controversy about the implementation of the new code of ethics, I am glad that we are talking about it. We always want to hold people to high expectations. Just one person on staff can change the climate of a school. I have been so impressed with what I have seen in Blount County Schools, but this is definitely not the case in all schools in Alabama. Our job as administrators includes communicating to teachers what those expectations are, and making sure that our decisions about personnel reflect a commitment to those ideals. These decisions definitely take courage, but now, more than ever, there is a reason to do what is right for kids.
ReplyDeleteGreat things are happening in our schools. All too often, we're only guilty of not sharing those positives with everyone else. As part of my SGA and class officer leadership conference this summer, I incorporated a training on the Seven Habits. This turned out to be a very positive discussion and team building experience for us a we began to plan out our yearly service projects.
ReplyDeleteI have just completed reading the introductory comments, foreword, and Chapter 1 from The Leader In Me. This has wet my appetite for more! I was particularly intrigued by what Covey refers to as "Primary Greatness" and "Secondary Greatness".
ReplyDeleteAlthough his comments about these topics make perfect "common sense", I had never thought about the characteristics he associates with "Primary Greatness" as anything more than good character traits.
I particularly liked his statement on page 9 that the attributes associated with primary greatness, "represents who people are--every day--as opposed to what they own or temporary achievements."
A big part of standard 1 of the ethics involves the environment the teachers create. We all know the ones who immediately start complaining at a faculty meeting the moment there is a hint of having to do or learn about something new. Perhaps we have been guilty of this in the past. I admit, teachers are bombarded with new programs and ideas that promise to revolutionize education, only to fall by the wayside quickly. Exposure to new ideas is absolutely critical to growth. We must give new ideas a listen before dismissing them due to being overburdened.
ReplyDeleteThe questions surrounding the Code of Ethics is interesting because I see a correlation of this issue and school climate issues. All stateholders involved have different opinions and expectations so as leaders we must continue to first seek to understand so we can move forward.
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