Philippine Normal University
The National Center for Teacher Education
Taft Ave., Manila
ETHICS
IN
EDUCATION
PREPARED BY:
Danica L. Perez
Master ng Sining sa Edukasyong Pangwika sa Filipino
PED- 702
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr. Erwin L. Oamil
Subject Professor
Ethics in Education
WHY ETHICS IN EDUCATION?
 Ethics in education are essential as they help run the system smoothly.
“It deals with standards set by profession to regulate members’ behavior in the profession. The
professional has a personal commitment to individual client, to general public, to the profession
and its stature.” (Kfir and Shamal, 2002).
 Ethics in education are applicable on both the instructors as well as the students.
“Brookfield (2006), says that the person who chose to be a teacher in for the interest of helping
students learn, and that will be his/her first priority.”
 Ethics in education that are applicable on teachers require them to show patience to
every student despite their learning abilities.
“The educational leaders’ understanding of what it means to be a human being and his /her
understanding of how human beings should treat one another ultimately affect all ethical
considerations.” (Rebore, 2001)
Ethics education can be divided into four stages:
1. In family, ethics education should focus on descriptive facts. Children observe their
parents’ ethical behaviors and they learn social facts about ethical behavior.
2. In school, students learn what is right and what is wrong. This is a value education or
character education.
3. In university, ethics should be professional ethics.
4. In business, people learn some ethical codes about their occupations.
Ethical Education
Ethical Education is a key component of the Educate Together model; it’s a curriculum that is
living in Ireland’s equality-based schools and it seeks to offer students the opportunity to
meaningfully and critically reflect upon the world around them.
Ethical Education aims to extend and hone students’ ability to:
 To explore local and global issues
 To question and investigate their own beliefs, values and worldview and those of others
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Talkies and Seaton (2007) noted that ethical standards and evaluations differ from one culture
to another depending on the cultural beliefs and behavior.”
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To develop empathy and intercultural awareness
To hone communication, discussion, debate and critical thinking skills
Educate Together schools teach Ethical Education as an independent subject at primary (Learn
Together) and second-level (Ethical Education Curriculum). The curriculum strands are outlined
below:
Primary
Moral and Spiritual
Equality and Justice
Belief Systems
Ethics and the Environment
Secondary
Values
Making Moral and Ethical Decisions
Beliefs and Worldviews
Different Teachings and Perspectives
Diversity in Ireland
Migration
Power and Participation
Gender Equality
Development Education
Strategy building
In 2017, the Globethics.net Board of Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, home to the
world’s largest digital online library on ethics, decided to intensify and focus on the integration of
Ethics in Higher Education as its key strategic route. This agenda has resulted in consultations
and training happening for teachers and stakeholders around the globe.
ETHICAL ISSUE/S
Ethical issues refer to the situations that require a person or an organization to choose between
alternatives that must be evaluated as right (ethical) or wrong (unethical). (Barrett, 2005).
ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING MODEL BY RALPH POTTER
How to be Fair and Ethical in the Classroom
 Impartiality. Students expect an instructor to treat everyone in the class equally. Few
professors intentionally favor certain students over others, but it is probably impossible
not to like some students more than others.
 Respect. Respect involves treating students politely.
 Concern for students. Students expect their instructors to care about them and their
academic performance.
 Integrity. Integrity means being consistent and truthful, and explaining your policies,
procedures and decisions and why they are necessary, so that their fairness can be
judged and understood.
 Propriety. Propriety means acting in a socially acceptable manner that does not offend
students' sensibilities.
(Whitley, Jr., B., Perkins,et al., 2000)
CODE OF ETHICS
A written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its workers and management to help
them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article 11, of R.A. No. 7836, otherwise known as
the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 and paragraph (a), section 6, P.D. No.
223, as amended, the Board for Professional Teachers hereby adopt the Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers.
SOME ETHICAL ISSUES TO PONDER:
In 2009, a Georgia teacher was forced to resign when a picture of the teacher holding a drink
was posted on Facebook.
The teacher was on vacation in Europe at the time
The school felt like the teacher was promoting alcohol use
Court upheld decision because they feel that anyone who resigns even under pressure can’t be
considered involuntary termination (Downey, 2011)
Chicago public school teacher refused to teach kindergarten curriculum because of religious
beliefs
The teacher’s religious beliefs prevented them from promoting love of country
Court ruled that teacher’s beliefs must be respected but that the teacher can’t force beliefs on
students by bypassing parts of curriculum (Schimmel, Stellman, & Fischer, 2011).
Inireklamo ang isang guro sa bayan ng Lupi, Camarines Sur dahil sa malakas umanong
pamamalo sa puwet ng isang estudyante sa kindergarten na nag-iwan pa ng pasa.
Natakot nang pumasok sa eskuwelahan ang limang taong gulang na si "Jojo" matapos paluin
noong Hunyo 28 ng guro gamit umano ang stick na panturo sa pisara. (ABS-CBN News)
References used:
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http://www.eddirect.com/resources/education/ethics-in-education
www.sciencedirect.com
https://www.educatetogether.ie/about/overview/
https://research.ku.edu/sites/research.ku.edu/files/docs/EESE_EthicalDecisionmakingFr
amework.pdf
Gardelli, Alerby, and Persson (2014). “Why Philosophical Ethics in School: Implications
for Education in technology and in General” in Ethics and Education, Vol. 9, No:1, pp.
16-28. Routledge: Taylor& Francis Group