3.3 Ethics and Values

Personal values are the fundamental beliefs and principles that we hold dear whereas ethical behavior is the application of our personal values in our actions and choices. It involves making decisions that are consistent with our sense of right and wrong, even when it is difficult or inconvenient (Fritzsche, 1991). However, this writing will focus on the three indicators where personal values and ethical behaviors are being practiced throughout my teaching experience. 

To begin with, willing to work out of school hours to enhance learning. This is the indicator where it talks about how the teacher is willing to help students in whatever need they tend to have. As a result of this, a teacher must be responsible for taking accountability for their actions even when they have negative consequences (Wuthnow, 2012). Similarly, Cooper et al (2023) that being ethical means that we have to cultivate qualities for our behavior, such as honesty and teachers should always tell students the truth when making decisions and respect, which can help us treat people with kindness and consideration, even when we disagree with them. However, Snow (1991) argued that when people are willing to help other people, it shows that they have great compassion towards those people and it can motivate them to give a hand, even if it means making sacrifices. For instance, I found that when teaching Math students should have weaknesses related to their learning where they need help. Unfortunately, I cannot be able to assist them one by one for a limited duration of a lesson. Therefore, I planned to hold special classes every Saturday under the authority of the school principal, also consent letters are provided to students for their parents or guardians' permission (Consent letter). Every Saturday, students' weaknesses for that week will be raised and addressed. I felt that by doing it this way students were able to achieve previous learning outcomes before the next week came (see the special classes pictures). By doing this, I felt that I've implemented the concept of being ethical that teachers must always be honest in their decision-making, willing to help students in whatever they need, and so forth.

Furthermore, a teacher is excited about teaching and makes students interested in their lessons. This is where an enthusiastic teacher often spices the class with excitement, enjoyment, and anticipation (Patrick et al, 2000). It also engages students to participate and stimulates them to explore. Thus, teacher enthusiasm sparks the curiosity of students and jumpstarts their motivation to learn. Bryson (2007) suggested that the best way to make teaching more interesting is to ask questions and seek student's opinions on the topic, getting students to present their work and encouraging group discussion. It is believed that students look to teachers for approval and positive reinforcement and are more likely to be enthusiastic about learning if they feel their work is recognized and valued. However, Slavin (2013) argued that students engage and become interested in the lesson when their teacher is punctual and organized by introducing attractive resources to attract students' attention and want to learn more. In my opinion with my experiences, it is important for teachers to be excited about teaching. It is believed that excitement always comes with punctuality. This can be evident by looking at teachers' performance and punctuality which can be poor if not excited and vice versa. However, in my teaching practice at TUC 1 JSS, I have experienced this where my excitement about teaching led me to make sure students are well engaged, collaborated, and achieve the learning outcomes where I applied interactive activities and games for fun learning. In the meantime, students are learning and happy as well.

Consequently, a teacher should be a good model of good citizenship for students, parents and the community. Teachers truly can be exemplary models of good citizenship for students, parents, and the community in numerous ways. Parts of being a good citizen means abiding by the community and school code and learning how to engage in debate respectfully so we can be safe and enjoy being together in the community and school. However, Lickona (2004) suggests that displaying good character where includes honesty, good listening and kindness toward students' mistakes and efforts. Being a good citizen includes kindness and empathy towards children. In my internship, I remembered that there had been times when I tried to be a good model to all my students. One good example of being a good model is when I gave a second chance to one of my students to finish his work rather than reporting him to the office for further punishment (see the picture). This practice allows students to understand a sense of citizenship where giving second chances only comes from a good and diligent person.

Overall, these three indicators of ethical behavior and personal values play a crucial role where a teacher should be a good model of good citizenship for students, parents, and the community. Excited about teaching makes students interested in their lessons and is willing to work outside of school hours to enhance learning. It was a good experience applying these indicators because it helps us to be good teachers to students, parents, and the communities. However, being ethical in our careers and tasks is the most essential thing that shapes us well as good citizens and people.

Bibliography:

Bryson, C., & Hand, L. (2007). The role of engagement in inspiring teaching and learning. Innovations in education and teaching international, 44(4), 349-362. Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14703290701602748

Cooper, B., Cohen, T. R., Huppert, E., Levine, E. E., & Fleeson, W. (2023). Honest behavior: Truth-seeking, belief-speaking, and fostering understanding of the truth in others. Academy of Management Annals, 17(2), 655-683. Retrieved from: https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/annals.2021.0209

Fritzsche, D. J. (1991). A model of decision-making incorporating ethical values. Journal of Business Ethics, 10, 841-852. Retrieved from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00383700

Lickona, T. (2004). Character matters: How to help our children develop good judgment, integrity, and other essential virtues. Simon and Schuster. Retrieved from: https://books.google.ki/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Pz7ZDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=displaying+good+character+where+it+includes+honesty,+good+listening+and+kindness+toward+student%27s+effort&ots=XboGE-BC1K&sig=Q4zm7P_ZTYzDKeHufODA0tdvEHo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=displaying%20good%20character%20where%20it%20includes%20honesty%2C%20good%20listening%20and%20kindness%20toward%20student's%20effort&f=false

Patrick, B. C., Hisley, J., & Kempler, T. (2000). " What's everybody so excited about?": The effects of teacher enthusiasm on student intrinsic motivation and vitality. The Journal of Experimental Educational, 217-236. Retrieved from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20152630

Slavin, R. E. (2013). A theory of school and classroom organization. In School and classroom organization (pp. 2-21). Routledge. Retrieved from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203056950-2/theory-school-classroom-organization-robert-slavin

Snow, N. E. (1991). Compassion. American philosophical quarterly, 28(3), 195-205. Retrieved from: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20014373

Wuthnow, R. (2012). Acts of compassion: Caring for others and helping ourselves. Princeton University Press. Retrieved from: https://books.google.ki/books?hl=en&lr=&id=TlhPZqwqd1AC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=when+people+are+willing+to+help+other+people+it+shows+that+they+have+compassion+towards+them+&ots=LK-Rh2SEME&sig=cmjFmuCwX0jqayQEmQeT8x1TrEo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=when%20people%20are%20willing%20to%20help%20other%20people%20it%20shows%20that%20they%20have%20compassion%20towards%20them&f=false