Ethics Education

The question in view in this article is Florida education ethics and how they are implemented. Maintaining an ethical educational environment for the students of Florida's public school system is paramount. That is why the Department of Education strives to build close relationships with each of its local school districts, to make certain that Florida's children are provided with a safe and robust learning atmosphere. A myriad of personnel all work to do just that, from teachers to school staff and principals, to state officials and local police officers. Education is truly a team effort, and providing education in an ethical environment is no exception. Here we will cover what the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida (the official document of what is expected ethically of teachers that teach in Florida) and what steps to take if you believe your child's teacher has violated one of these codes.

There are three primary values that the code of ethics lays out for teaching professionals.

Dignity "The educator values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all."*

Student First "The educator's primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student's potential. The educator will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity."*

Striving for Ethical Excellence "Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of one's colleagues, of students, of parents, and of other members of the community, the educator strives to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct."*

The document further specifies these broad codes into more specific principles to be followed. To view these follow the link at the bottom of this article.

Now while these ethical guidelines guide most of Florida's teachers in their pursuit of providing your child with an excellent education, a few instances of teachers acting in breach of them have occurred. As a parent you need to know what recourse you can take if you believe your child's teacher has behaved in an unethical manner. The first step is to get in touch with the the Florida Department of Children and Families immediately if such a breach has occurred. They can be reached at 1-800-96-ABUSE and more specific information is available at their website www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse. Further, you can contact your local school district, as each has a unique process for lodging a complaint against the teachers in its employ.

Most students and their parents will never experience a failure of their teacher to adhere to the code of Florida's educational ethics, but it is wise to be prepared for such an eventuality just to be sure.

*Information and all quotes taken from http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/code_of_ethics.asp Please visit this site if you wish to view the principles of ethics mentioned in this article.

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