What are Professional Ethics | Role of Teaching in Promoting Professional Ethics

QUESTION 

What are professional ethics? Describe the role of teaching in promoting professional ethics.

Course: Professionalism in Teaching

Course Code 8612

Level: B.Ed Solved Assignment 

ANSWER  

Professional ethics include personal, managerial, and community standards of conduct expected by professionals in an institution/organization. The term professionalism originally was functional to the undertaking of a religious order. By the end of the year 1675, this term was seen to be secular in its application and was applied to the three learned professions:

 Divinity, Law, and Medicine. The term professionalism was also used for the military profession around this same time. Any professional and those who work in recognized professions implement expert knowledge and skills. How this knowledge should be applied when providing the service to the public, can be well thought-out a moral issue and is termed professional ethics. 

Experts can make decisions, apply their skills, and reach informed conclusions in situations that the general public cannot because they are not familiar with the necessary knowledge of the particular field, and acquaintance with skills. One of the most primitive examples of professional ethics is the Hippocratic Oath to which medical practitioners still adhere up to the day. The majority of institutions define ethical approaches in terms of discrete components. In general, they are:

·         Honesty

·         Integrity

·         Transparency

·         Accountability

·         Confidentiality

·         Communication Skills

·         Interactive Skills

·         Objectivity

·         Punctuality

·         Regularity

·         Respect for others

·         Obedience to the law

·         Loyalty

·         Ownership

·         Productivity

·         Sense of responsibility

·         Social Skills

Role of teaching in promoting professional ethics

Teachers play a critical role in promoting professional ethics in school education. As educators, they are responsible for instilling moral values, ethical principles, and social responsibilities in their students. Here are some ways in which teachers can promote professional ethics in school education:

 

Modeling ethical behavior: Teachers must model ethical behavior and be role models for their students. They must demonstrate integrity, honesty, and fairness in their actions and decisions.

Incorporating ethical principles into the curriculum: Teachers can incorporate ethical principles into the curriculum by discussing ethical dilemmas and encouraging students to think critically about ethical issues.

Encouraging open dialogue: Teachers can encourage open dialogue among students by creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment where students feel comfortable expressing their opinions and asking questions.

Addressing unethical behavior: Teachers must be proactive in addressing unethical behavior in the classroom. They should create a code of conduct and enforce consequences for violations.

Encouraging community service: Teachers can encourage community service as a way to promote social responsibility and ethical behavior.

Providing opportunities for ethical decision-making: Teachers can provide opportunities for students to practice ethical decision-making by presenting them with ethical scenarios and encouraging them to analyze the situation and make responsible decisions.

In summary, teachers play a crucial role in promoting professional ethics in school education. By modeling ethical behavior, incorporating ethical principles into the curriculum, encouraging open dialogue, addressing unethical behavior, encouraging community service, and providing opportunities for ethical decision-making, teachers can instill ethical values in their students and prepare them to become responsible and ethical citizens.