PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FOR TEACHERS

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF TEACHERS
The professional educator strives to create a learning environment that nurtures to fulfilment the potential of all students and responsibly accepts that every child has a right to an uninterrupted education free from strikes or any other work stoppage tactics.

The 4 principles of professional ethics of teachers are:

PRINCIPLE I: Ethical Conduct toward Students
The professional educator, in accepting his or her position of public trust, measures success not only by the progress of each student toward realization of his or her personal potential, but also as a citizen of the greater community of the republic. PRINCIPLE II: Ethical Conduct toward Practices and Performance
The professional educator assumes responsibility and accountability for his or her performance and continually strives to demonstrate competence. The professional educator endeavors to maintain the dignity of the profession by respecting and obeying the law, and by demonstrating personal integrity. PRINCIPLE III: Ethical Conduct toward Professional Colleagues
The professional educator, in exemplifying ethical relations with colleagues, accords just and equitable treatment to all members of the profession. PRINCIPLE IV: Ethical Conduct toward Parents and Community
The professional educator pledges to protect public sovereignty over public education and private control of private education. The professional educator makes concerted efforts to communicate to parents all information that should be revealed in the interest of the student.

1. OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS STUDENTS

1.1 Treats all students with love and affection
The demonstration of genuine love and affection by teachers for their students is essential for learning to happen. It is the core of the teaching learning process.

1.2 Respects the value of being just and impartial to all students irrespective of their caste, creed, religion, sex, economic status, disability, language and place of birth.
School is a place where social justice and equity have to be practised and valued by the teachers.

1.3 Facilitates students’ physical, social, intellectual, emotional and moral development.
Physical and emotional security is the cornerstone for all learning right from the primary to the secondary school years and even afterwards.

1.4 Respects basic human dignity of the child in all aspects of school life
There is a need to recognize that each individual child has its own rights and dignity as a human being and a member of a democratic society. Violation of rights of the child is often observed in our schooling process.

1.5 Makes planned and systematic efforts to facilitate the child to actualize his/her potential and talent.
The teacher should recognize the multiple talents such as sports, music, dance and other creative endeavours amongst children. Teacher’s role is planning accordingly to help children actualize their potential to the fullest extent.

1.6 Transacts the curriculum in conformity with the values enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The Constitutional values such as democracy, secularism, equality, justice and liberty need to be mainstreamed in the diverse activities of the school through both curricular and co-curricular interventions.

1.7 Adapts his/her teaching to the individual needs of students
The child-centered pedagogy encourages us to think that learners have diverse needs and different experiences. This requires fundamental change in understanding the individual learner and the learning processes.

1.8 Maintains the confidentiality of the information concerning students and dispenses such information only to those who are legitimately entitled to it.
A teacher not only teaches a child but also has knowledge about student’s family, culture and community. The close interaction between the teachers and the taught builds the trust and respect vital for the development of the personality of the child.

1.9 Refrains from subjecting any child to fear, trauma, anxiety, physical punishment, sexual abuse and mental and emotional harassment.
There is a greater need to change our belief pattern that punishment brings better learning. The teaching community needs to refrain from such activities as violate child rights.

1.10 Keeps a dignified demeanour commensurate with the expectations from a teacher as a role model.
The teacher has been eulogized in the Indian context in sublime terms. The ‘Guru’ of ancient era was a person par excellence.

2. OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS PARENTS, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY

2.1 Establishes a relationship of trust with parents/guardians in the interest of all round development of students
Teacher being the central figure in the educational system has a connectivity with students, both in and outside the classroom, his/her colleagues, and the parents.

2.2 Desists from doing anything which is derogatory to the respect of the child or his/her parents/guardians
It is also important to treat equally children from different economic backgrounds and children belonging to different religions, regions, castes, disability categories, etc.

2.3 Strives to develop respect for the composite culture of India among students
India is a land of many cultures, languages, religions, faiths and beliefs and in any class there is always a representation of children of different cultures, languages, religions. This philosophy needs to be nurtured among students through all curricular areas of the school.

2.4 Keeps the country uppermost in mind and refrains from taking part in such activities as may spread feelings of hatred or enmity among different communities, religious and linguistic groups
A clear focus on developing the concept of being an Indian first and affiliation to a specific group later can lay the foundation for national integration.

3. OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS THE PROFESSION AND COLLEAGUES

3.1 Strives for his/her continuous professional development
In a knowledge-driven society, it is necessary for every person to continue learning throughout his/her life. As a teacher is expected to equip his/her students for lifelong learning, it is imperative for him/her also to become a lifelong learner.

3.2 Creates a culture that encourages purposeful collaboration and dialogue among colleagues and stakeholders
It is essential to create an academically stimulating ethos in the school for which all the teachers are expected to contribute. Such an ethos involves planned and focused collaboration in all academic matters among teachers working in the institution.

3.3 Takes pride in the teaching profession and treats other members of the profession with respect and dignity
A teacher cannot give his/her best to the students and the community if he/she does not display the pride and dignity of the profession chosen.

3.4 Refrains from engaging himself/herself in private tuition or private teaching activity
Teachers’ engagement in private tuition has been a matter of controversy and there have been arguments both in its favour and also against it. Giving tuitions to one students may cause injustice to others.

3.5 Refrains from accepting any gift or favour that might impair or appear to influence professional decisions or actions
The teacher should also refrain from accepting gifts and favours as they would expect the teachers to recommend their books or help them in acquiring purchase orders for their materials.

3.6 Refrains from making unsubstantiated allegations against colleagues and higher authorities
If a teacher observes some of his colleagues violating the ethical principles, he/she should bring it to the notice of the senior colleagues. Teacher should file complaints only when he/she has firsthand knowledge of the said violation and in no case it should be based on mere here say.

3.7 Avoids making derogatory statements about colleagues, especially in the presence of pupils, other teachers, officials or parents,
A teacher having difference of opinion with colleagues on purely professional matters is perfectly in order and indeed should be welcome. But the mode of expression of the difference in opinion should be polite and dignified.

3.8 Respects the professional standing and opinions of his/her colleagues
A teacher should hold such professionally advanced fellow teachers in high esteem and resolve to emulate them. But, this does not mean that he/she should blindly accept their views without critical examination.

3.9 Maintains confidentiality of information concerning colleagues and dispenses such information only when authorized to do so.
A teacher may be knowing many things about the life and conduct of his/her fellow teachers. Some information may be of confidential nature while some other may be of routine type involving no component of confidentiality.