Welcome To
Ethical Leadership
Using PTA Core Values For
The Common Good
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© National PTA, 2010
Welcome to Ethical Leadership, a
course that will help you do “what ought
to be done” in the realm of handling
PTA resources and personal
interaction, and equip you to better
advance the mission and purposes,
and vision of the PTA (Local, State,
and National).
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© National PTA, 2010
Objectives
After completing this course you will have:
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Viewed the current National PTA mission and purposes;
vision; values; National PTA Basic Policies; and a
generic PTA “Code of Ethics.”
Explored ethical dilemmas that might present in your
involvement with PTA using the “case study” method
and identified an ethical course of action in each.
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© National PTA, 2010
What Is “Ethics?”
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As suggested by Aristotle (in his
Nicomachean Ethics) and echoed and
amplified by many others, Ethics deals
with the question
“What ought to be done?”
Ludovici Collection.
Photographer: Marie-Lan Nguyen.
•
If the answer were “common sense,” then theft, child
abuse, discrimination, and the like would not occur, and a
training program like this would not be needed.
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© National PTA, 2010
What Do These Headlines Have In Common?
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Each headline has an identification with the PTA
Each headline reflects some type of lapse in ethics
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© National PTA, 2010
Potholes On The Road To Ethical Decisions
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© National PTA, 2010
A General Principle:
The Golden Rule/Ethic Of Reciprocity
There is no better guide to the conscience
than the "Golden Rule,“ and its
precepts are so simple that any mind
can grasp them.
Alice McLellan Birney — PTA co-founder
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© National PTA, 2010
The PTA Triple Filter
Is It Legal?
Does It Follow PTA Policies (Local,
Council/District, State, National)?
Does It Advance PTA's Mission
And Purposes?
Result = Decisions That Are Ethical In The
PTA Context
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© National PTA, 2010
Is It Legal?
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Most of us understand what’s illegal. For example,
stealing money.
In addition to theft, there are other ways you may get
into legal trouble (criminal and/or civil):
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Compounding a felony and misprision of a felony
Fraud
Libel/Slander
Negligence
Child abuse
© National PTA, 2010
Even If It Is Legal
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Actions which may not be technically illegal in a
volunteer environment do not necessarily advance the
PTA Mission and Purposes, and so in the PTA context
would be ethically dubious:
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Favoritism
Private agenda
Autocratic leadership style
Tobacco use or consumption of alcohol at a PTA-sponsored
public event where children or youth are present
© National PTA, 2010
Does It Follow PTA’s “Policies?”
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Local and State PTAs set their own Local and State
policies, bylaws, codes of ethics and codes of conduct.
This course presents National PTA Basic Policies and
Standards of Affiliation
Your Local and State PTAs probably have their own
policies, bylaws, standing rules, codes of ethics and
conduct which you should learn, and conduct your
affairs consistent with.
Contact your State office for a copy of your State
policies, bylaws, standing rules, codes of ethics and
conduct.
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© National PTA, 2010
National PTA Basic Policies
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© National PTA, 2010
A PTA Code of Ethics
•
Many State and Local PTAs have Codes of Ethics and
Codes of Conduct. An Internet search of the terms
“PTA” and “Code of Ethics” will turn up many examples.
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© National PTA, 2010
Does It Advance PTA's Mission And Purposes?
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The final “Triple Filter” question is “Does It Advance The
PTA Mission And Purposes?”
The PTA Mission And Purposes, Vision, and Values
can be located online on the PTA website at:
http://www.pta.org/1162.asp
We will quickly review these items in the course frames
that follow.
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© National PTA, 2010
The PTA Mission
The PTA Mission is the overall purpose of PTA.
• A powerful voice for all children,
• A relevant resource for families and communities, and
• A strong advocate for the education and well-being of
every child.
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© National PTA, 2010
The PTA Purposes
•
•
•
•
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To promote the welfare of the children and youth in
home, school, community, and place of worship.
To raise the standards of home life.
To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of
children and youth.
To bring into closer relation the home and the school,
that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in
the education of children and youth.
To develop between educators and the general public
such united efforts as will secure for all children and
youth the highest advantages in physical, mental,
social, and spiritual education.
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© National PTA, 2010
The PTA Vision
•
The PTA Vision is what the future will look like if PTA
accomplishes its mission:
Making every child's potential a reality.
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© National PTA, 2010
PTA Values
The PTA Values are what the PTA stands for:
• Collaboration: We work in partnership with a wide
array of individuals and organizations to accomplish our
agreed-upon goals.
• Commitment: We are dedicated to promoting
children’s health, well-being, and educational success
through strong parent, family, and community
involvement.
• Accountability: We acknowledge our obligations. We
deliver on our promises.
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© National PTA, 2010
PTA Values (Continued)
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•
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Respect: We value our colleagues and ourselves. We
expect the same high quality of effort and thought from
ourselves as we do from others.
Inclusivity: We invite the stranger and welcome the
newcomer. We value and seek input from as wide a
spectrum of viewpoints and experiences as possible.
Integrity: We act consistently with our beliefs. When we
err, we acknowledge the mistake and seek to make
amends.
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© National PTA, 2010
National Standards For Family-School Partnerships
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PTA, working with leading experts on parent
involvement and school-community partnerships, has
updated its National Standards for Parent/Family
Involvement Programs to reflect recent research and
improve parent and community involvement practices.
The focus has been shifted from what schools should
do to involve parents to what parents, schools, and
communities can do together to support student
success.
To reflect this change, the standards have been
renamed the National Standards for Family-School
Partnerships.
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© National PTA, 2010
National Standards For Family-School Partnerships
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Click to skip to next slide
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© National PTA, 2010
Case Studies
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Each case study shows a situation, and several
possible actions to evaluate
For each case, apply the "triple filter." Ask yourself:
– Is it legal?
– Does It Follow PTA's Policies?
– Does It Advance PTA's Mission and Purposes?
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© National PTA, 2010
Conclusion
Always do right. This will gratify some
people and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain
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© National PTA, 2010
Summary
•
•
Ethical Leadership has been designed to help you do
“what ought to be done” handling PTA resources and
personal interaction, and to equip you to better advance
the mission, vision, and purposes of the PTA.
Now that you have completed this course you have:
– Viewed the current National PTA mission, vision, and purposes;
National PTA Basic Policies; and a generic PTA “Code of
Ethics.”
– Explored ethical dilemmas that might present in your
involvement with PTA using the “case study” method to identify
an ethical course of action in each.
–24–
© National PTA, 2010
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© National PTA, 2010