Week+6-+Stephanie+Zurcas

=Teacher Code of Ethics and code of conduct - 27/4/09=

The Victorian Teaching profession code of ethics is a legislative requirement. It is based on three values:

Integrity (personal and professional)

Respect

Responsibility

The purpose of the code is to assist teachers in making better decisions as well as state the values that guide teachers practice and conduct within the profession. The code is not a disciplinary code and does not enforce regulations, simply a guideline to follow. The draft code of conduct has three codes.

Professional conduct Principle 1.2 Teachers treat their students with courtesy and dignity Principle 1.3 Teachers work within the limits of their professional expertise Principle 1.5 Teachers are always in a professional relationship with the students in their school, whether at school or not. Principle 1.6 Teachers are always in a professional relationship with parents. Principle 1.7 Teachers work in collaborative relationships with students families and communities

Personal conduct Be a positive role model Respect rule of law and provide a positive example Don’t exploit position for financial gain Maintain confidentiality

Professional competence Principle 3.1 Teachers value their professionalism and set and maintain high standards of competence Principle 3.2 Teachers are aware of the legal requirements that pertain to their profession.

Other points were raised in the lecture being: Never be alone with a pupil Never have a sexual relationship with a student Never touch a student without a valid reason Never have personal conversation through email, telephone, letters etc Never accept gifts that may be seen as bribes The workshop this week explored a game called ‘Jigsaw’. For this game mixed ability groups were split up and had to read an article to do with the issue of ethics. Once the article was read and points were raised the group was then split again and each person from each group had to talk about their article in relation to ethics raised in the teaching profession.

Both the readings for this week went onto talking about ethics. One article was related to “Working in an ethical school” the other “Promoting the ethical school professional ethics for school administrators”.

“Promoting the ethical school professional ethics for school administrators” covered ethical culture within schools and communities. As well as ethics training for teachers, school based codes of ethics and the role of school administrators in promoting an ethical school.

“Working in an ethical school” covered issues about moral value. Questions like what is right or wrong when considering ethical decisions. Models and other guidelines were shown in order to help guide teachers when troubled with making an ethical decision.