Final Professional Ethics Paper

            Ethical conduct has always been common sense to me.  I cannot imagine a professional, whether it be a teacher, doctor or any other respectable job employee, not use good ethical conduct.  I always think back to the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.  It makes sense because I do not want somebody to treat me disrespectfully or unprofessionally.  I believe that teachers should have the highest expectations for themselves when it comes to ethical conduct. Who better to expect good conduct from than the individuals who work with students and other adults all day everyday?  I want to be a teacher who cares about my students and treats them with respect so they know that I want them to come to school each day.  I want families and concerned parents to be able to approach me at anytime they feel the need to do so.  As I am talking to them, I also am going to listen and jot down notes that I can later reflect on.  I will not be afraid to send home a note or fire off an email when I feel it is necessary. 

            I believe that the way a professional presents himself both physically and verbally is the way that he wants to be treated.  That is the code of conduct that I am always going to adhere to.  I am going to present myself in a way that others will respect and look favorably on.  It produces long term effects as well as short term effects.  Other individuals will respect and take me seriously if I present myself well. 

         The way I treat students is another thing that is going to stick with each one of them for quite a while.  I am going to be fair and treat each of my students with attention and good ethical language.  I have known teachers who swear but I believe nothing good comes from swearing.  Hopefully, by my exemplifying and representing my code of conduct, I will make an impact on another individual and encourage him to develop his own ethical behavior.

         The most important aspects of working with other individuals are respect and professionalism.  When calling a teacher professional, the teacher must be able to reflect on her teaching style and take criticism. Open mindedness is a quality that must be present in a teacher.  There is nothing worse than a teacher who will not listen to anyone or take any advice.  Openmindedness not only shows the parents that someone cares for their child, it also shows the students that someone is there for them and wants them to succeed.    Instead of pointing out all the things a student performs poorly in, the teacher could give suggestions and ideas to help with what the child is having trouble with.  Most parents want to know ways to help their child succeed and do better in school.  One option of being positive and respectful to parents is picking out a good thing the child did during the day.  To show respect, a teacher could also call the parent and discuss how she made changes in her classroom based on the suggestions of that parent.  The parent would feel that he or she made a contribution and that the opinion actually mattered. Honesty is always best taught by modeling it for students and perhaps parents. Being concerned about what parents say and genuinely making an effort to change what is put to question, shows integrity on part of the teacher.

            As a teacher, I will have a desire to give my students everything I can to help them to become literate, functional adults in today’s society.  Developing a trusting relationship with each student, making learning fun, and making school a safe place for students to come are very important factors to me as a future educator.  The teacher must allow the students to feel comfortable and that they belong in the classroom. Teachers have one of the most important jobs by interacting with children.  As a future teacher, I will be aware that what I say could make a big difference in what happens in that child's life.

         It is also essential, for me as a teacher, to understand and appreciate the various dimensions of human diversity.  By asking parents about their culture and having them come into my classroom, I can expose my students to individual differences that each of them has.  Once again human diversity relates to communication with parents and teachers.  As a teacher, I will be aware of the family structure of all my students and the parenting styles they are exposed to.  I may have a student with a unique and rare cultural background, and I definitely want that child to feel comfortable and proud sharing it with others.  Sharing backgrounds also ties in with engagement in positive social interactions.  Students can develop polite social skills by respectfully, but enthusiastically, sharing their cultures with others.  The teacher must allow the students to feel comfortable and that they belong in the classroom. 

          Another aspect of being a professional is being a role model for students and families.  By letting students and their parents know that they can depend on the teacher, waves of communication are opened.  Another way is to be prepared by planning and goal setting.  Students need consistency, because some may not have a consistent schedule at home.  Schedules make school easier and handier for everyone involved.  Along with consistency, control needs to be maintained in the classroom.  By maintaining control in my classroom, I will be able to build healthy, trusting relationships with my students.  I know that if I care and provide a safe environment for each and every one of them, they will treat me with respect and want to learn.  Responsibility is a big factor in the development of children.  They need to feel like they belong and have a role in where they are for most of their day.  This responsibility will make them feel like they contributed by helping in the classroom.

            My main goal, as a teacher, is to have my students understand how important an education is.  I want my students to have the desire to learn and be creative and have the internal motivation to succeed.  I believe that it is very important for students to know and understand what is going on in the outside world, but that cannot hinder the development and learning for which the children attend school.