Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

The Impact of an Ethical Teacher

Megan Smith
Wesleyan College

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

Teachers have an inherent drive of empathy that makes up a part of their whole being; the
desire to work with children to help better their lives is a selfless aspiration that I look upon with
the upmost respect. When I made the decision to become an educator, I thought of a career in
education as being my way of making a contribution in hopes of a better tomorrow. By planting
the seeds of knowledge and morality into the students I help mold, and in hopes of creating a
fruitful generation of compassionate citizens. In order to do so, students will need a role model
that they can mimic and look up to. The disposition of ones character weighs highly upon the
success they will have at impacting someones character. An ethical code of conduct
encourages a high standard of behavior and outlines responsibilities and
practices of teachers (Guarneri, 2009). So what disposition is required of me as a

teacher? Effortlessly, I can model how to be respectful, kind, and compassionate. However, this
is only a slight gateway into the ethics and morals needed in order to display professionalism and
exceptional character as an educator. Having a full understanding of acceptable behaviors as a
teacher is proactive for maintaining the professionalism that is required. As a teacher, you are
viewed as a leader, in which you behavior should project a positive disposition that encourages
learning.
As for all educators when entering the work force for the first time, there are certain
mandates that must first be approached in order to ensure that each party is complaint with the
procedures in place. This could also be referred to as abiding with legal compliance. All
employees who are hired by the state of Georgia, teachers being included, must consent to the
federal, state, and local laws that are in place to maintain ethical conduct. This contract should
honors all contracts until fulfillment, release or dissolution mutually agreed upon by all parties
(Guarneri, 2009). This means that once a teacher signs a contract they must exhibit ethical

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

conduct in order for their contract to not be breached. In order to leave the contact once you have
agreed upon employment can only be done with a proper release from the contract from your
employer. Abandoning a contact displays poor work ethic and is highly frowned upon. For first
year teachers, it is importance that they make sure that they are aware of the possible conflicts
that can happen in the classroom and how to handle them if needed. This responsibility requires
the teacher to maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct while recognizing that his or
her actions will be viewed and appraised by the community, professional associates and students
(Guarneri, 2009). Among parents and the community, there are legitimate expectations for teacher
behavior and student learning as these relate to decision-making.

The teachers behavior in and outside of the classroom, should always be taken into
consideration. Of course when you are on school property, you have to obey the rules of what is
acceptable and what is not, however, a teachers reputation is important even when class is not in
session. The privacy of personal information is more obtainable now more than ever. With the
use of social media, personal information has to be monitored closely, for the parents and
families of the students you teach will have you under their magnifying glass, even if they do
coherently plan to do so. Here is a scenario that could easily happen, during the holidays, parties
are typical events that can create fun gathering for families and friends. You are invited to a
friends party and you know that you will not see any of your co-workers or parents at this party.
You decided to have an adult beverage, and a friend asks you to pose for a picture. Before even
realizing that you were holding the alcoholic beverage that you were drinking during the picture,
your friend post the picture and tags you on a social media network. You have to make the ethical
decision of asking your friend to delete the picture for the fear of a parent or administrator seeing
the picture. Conversely, would you have to ask you friend to delete the picture? The answer is
no. You were not a school related function and you were not around any of your colleges or

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

students. However, even though you could not be reprimanded for the offense, it still leaves the
slightest chance of a parent or administers the opportunity to view you in this setting. I find that
as a teacher, your reputation speaks for itself. So from this perspective you can assess ones
morals of what is acceptable and what is not.
Another issue that arises for a teacher to be aware of his or her disposition is with teacher
parent relations. When are responsible for someone elses child, there is a level of
communication that has to exists from both parties and especially from the teacher. Teachers
have to make themselves available for parents. Whether it is by conference, email, or telephone,
a commutative relationship must develop. This is am approachable goal and in most cases, the
level of respect is mutual. However, throughout ones career it is inevitable that they will
encounter an upset parent. A teacher should display her professionalism and make sure that
witnesses are available if there were ever a situation that needed to be documented. A teacher
should always maintain his or her integrity with both the parent and student and remember that
maintaining their respect is critical.
Once a teacher is founded in a school system, the teacher takes the
responsibility for establishing a positive climate in the classroom and
participates in maintaining such a climate in the school as a whole (Guarneri,
2009). It is important for a teacher to not only create an environment that is
conducive for learning, but also to create an understanding that the teacher,
student, as well as other students must exhibit respect towards one another.
The confidentiality of the students information is also important to obtain.
Through my observations, I have witnessed minor incidents when a childs
information is not directly presented, but through careless error and

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

unawareness, students personally information was open for the students

interpretation. Students pick up on even the smallest inferences, such as a
child being on medication, or receiving a low grade. This seems like a
mediocre offense. For example, one of the practicing teachers I had the
pleasure of observing, had a child in her classroom that was on ADHD
medication. He was prescribed to take medication daily. So that the teacher
wouldnt forget, she set an alarm on her phone that would serve as a
reminder. As soon as the alarm would alert her, she would instruct the
student to go to the nurses office. At first, I didnt think anything about this
incident because it seemed harmless. After a couple of occurrences, the
students picked up on the notion that the child had to leave the classroom
everyday to visit the nurse. The students began teasing the young man.
Although the teacher addressed the bullying, it didnt ignore the fact that the
children all knew that the child had to go to the nurse everyday. It is the
small occurrences such as this one, which can often be overlooked.
Some teachers are more effective than others at facilitating student learning. Quality
teaching is an important component needed for student learning. The connection between a
quality teacher and student learning is remarkably high. NCATE standards call for dispositions
that are consistent with the idea of fairness and the belief that all students can learn. NCATE
refers to dispositions as teacher behaviors toward students, families, colleagues, and
communities that affect student learning, motivation, and development as well as the educators
own professional growth (Nixon, Dam, and Packard, 2010). I found this to be a key factor that
does in fact show in your ability to facilitate a encouraging learning environment. Through my

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

observations I witnessed two dynamically different seasoned teachers. Everything from the
atmosphere to the willingness of the students to learn was extraordinarily different. It wasnt quit
evident at first, but it didnt take long to realize that the teachers dispositions were polar
opposites. In one teachers classroom, the students enter the classroom in the mornings, get out
their morning work notebooks, and get to work. The teacher uses this time to prepares herself for
the day. While in the other classroom as the students arrive to the classroom, the teacher greets
them with a warm welcome. They are conditioned to know that each day they will have three
assignments that they can choose from, and that they cannot choose the same assignment each
day. There is instrumental music playing in the background, and the teacher uses this time to
meet with her students. As I reflect on the observation time that I had in each of these teachers
classrooms, I realize that there were several instances where the teachers approached their
students in different ways, there responses were opposite, and as their whole demeanors were
reverse. The entire atmosphere just felt more inviting in the teachers classroom that placed more
emphasis on how her students arrived in the mornings. The fact of the matter is that I couldnt
say that the teacher, whose classroom completed the same tasks each day, was ineffective.
However, I came to the conclusion that it was the difference in their dispositions that made the
second teachers classroom much more inviting to learn. From the way that she approached her
students, to her kind, and subtle disposition that she carried throughout the day had a remarkable
effect on the way she was able to lead her classroom.
The general makeup of a teacher and the morals and ethics they find valuable to their
beliefs can affect the outcome of a successful or ineffective teacher. A teacher should uphold the
responsibilities of becoming a role model that students cannot only strive to resemble, but feel
welcomed in their presence. One should construct the classroom in a way that addresses the

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

various learning styles and maintains a sense of privacy. To realize the importance of your
demeanor and how it affects the reactions and responses you receive from your students is a
required practice. Being an ethical person means more that simply making the right decisions,
but by reflect on how your perspectives help create a fair and opportunity enriched classroom
and how this will benefit your students.

Running head: THE IMPACT OF AN ETHICAL TEACHER

References:
Guarneri, C. M., & Achilles, C. M. (2009). No teacher left behind (NTLB): Raising the standard
for ethical teachers. online submission,
Nixon, A., Dam, M., & Packard, A. (2010). Teacher dispositions and contract non-renewal.
planning and changing, 41(3-4), 210-219.