How are educational leaders prepared to make ethical decisions?
Administrators who behave in an ethical manner and who are capable of making ethical decisions are critical to the successful function and future of our schools. Very few educator preparation programs incorporate the study of ethics into the curriculum. They brush over the concepts and do not allow for reflective thought around this issue. Aspiring leaders do not participate in enough reflective thinking around ethical decision making.
As an educator, are you held to a higher standard of ethical behavior than the average professional?
Because of the importance of the educational task and the trust students and their families place in them, educators, like other helping professionals, must hold themselves to a higher ethical standard than the average members of society (Harsh, et.al 2007). All school personnel are responsible for creating and maintaining a school atmosphere that is professional and for making ethical decisions as they relate to students, parents and the learning environment as a whole. Educational leaders, however, are responsible for ensuring that everyone and everything functions according to the highest ethical standards. When this is not the case, it is the school administrator who is required to address these issues swiftly and effectively.
An “official” Code of Ethics governs all school administrators. This Code of Ethics and principles for professional conduct can be found at: http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/code_of_ethics.asp. These principles of behavior and Code of Ethics should be used to drive all administrative decisions and when addressing any ethical conflict that an administrator is faced with. Educational professionals are bound by these principles and are held accountable for adhering to them. Because educational professionals are bound to these principles, both inside and outside of the school building, they are held to a higher standard of behavior than other professionals in different careers.
