Ethics and Values

We asked administrators what values determine their style of leadership...

Featured Dilemma:

Professionals may adhere to different codes of ethics.

What ethical dilemmas have you faced?

Some problems encountered have to do with confidentiality. One interviewee  brought to our attention that teachers do not have a specific code of ethics as social workers do. Not bound by a "code," teachers do learn appropriate professional behavior, and difficulty seldom arises as a direct result of varying codes of ethics. However, Alan thought it a good idea to develop a “building code of ethics” to which staff adhere.     Mike stated that he talks to staff about choosing their battles. "If we feel we have put a child in jeopardy by what we demand versus what a parent wants, we back off and do what we can here at school. We actually leave the parent out of some decisions. Not 'ethical,' but it keeps things calm for the child."     Louis mentioned that one can face dilemmas regarding personal religious beliefs.

What key values are most important to you?

Dedication to children and their well being and respect for others is important to Mike, and so are flexibility and resourcefulness.

Mike stressed the importance of confidentiality and an openness to change. Administrators see the value of staff who model life-long learning.  Joan emphasized honesty, loyalty and dependability. Others noted the student-centered approach, self-discovery and analysis.

Values influence priorities!

Most teachers come from a background that favors education as a priority. Coming from two parent homes, one may find  that it is difficult on a daily basis to understand some of the homes from which children come.     Educators can put the child in the middle of a tense situation: what a parent believes is a priority vs. what a teacher feels is important. A social worker can try to keep staff grounded and give ongoing guidance as to how to deal with the homes mentioned earlier.

At the elementary level, educators are always working on literacy. Reading and writing are major goals at each grade level. "Again, if reading and writing is not stressed in the home, we must accomplish the goal during the school day."     Mike would like to have a social worker conduct some parenting sessions on a regular basis and help parents become skilled at encouraging their children to achieve.