Ethics

What do you see as the purpose of the Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession of Florida?

The purpose of the Code of Ethics is to ensure all educators maintain a professional character, and constantly seek professional growth. I believe it’s main purpose is ultimately to protect the welfare of the students, ensuring their physical safety and emotional security. As educators, the students’ best interest is our priority, and we should constantly reflect on how we can improve their learning experience.

1. What is a specific example from this semester when you demonstrated being an ethical educator?

One day during math, I worked in a small group with two boys (academically lowest in the class) on estimation and place value. My CT taught the class to estimate the hundreds place by looking to the number on the right (tens place) and determining whether it is higher or lower than 5. This was a difficult concept for these two boys to understand. They could not understand how the number becomes "estimated" by changed to a higher number or lower number. After struggling through several examples, I decided to take a step back and modify my approach. I decided to add more visual representations, and small whiteboards to help the boys, who were becoming frustrated, a chance to approach it differently themselves. I also allowed them brain breaks, to just get up and get some water when they were becoming overwhelmed.

1. How is this specific example connected to the Code of Ethics?

I believe my actions were ethical because the education and emotional well-being was always my primary concern. First, I was not going to give up on them, no matter how much push back they gave me. Second, I met them where they were at. I took a couple of steps back in order to fill in some knowledge gaps, rather than pressuring them to learn a more difficult concept without proper background knowledge. Finally, I read their nonverbal cues and allowed them to take a breather when they became overwhelmed. It is easy for teachers to also become frustrated when a student does not understand content after they’ve explained it several different ways. The important thing is to always maintain your cool, and adjust your approach. If they’re not learning the way we teach, then we must teach the way they learn.