Learning Outcome (b)

Recognise the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of teachers.

Evidence 1.) Notes taken in class, 24th January

Teaching is a rather controversial profession at the moment, aspects such as Novopay, national standards regularly feature in the media.

Teaching involves legal responsibilities surrounding various aspects:

• Privacy - privacy for children regarding information, photographs of them
• Health and Safety laws
• teacher/student ratios
• no smoking
• parental consent for school trips etc
• wheelchair accessible schools
• copyright act when photocopying resources etc
• administering medication, policies on who can do it

Teachers must act in a professional manner.  This means:

• Relating to children in a appropriate manner
• Being reliable, showing up on time, letting school know in advance if you are unable to teach 
• Professional and appropriate dress
• Being adequately prepared in planning
• Abiding by the law, regardless of if you in school or not

New Zealand Teaching Council Code of Ethics (given to us) - a system of moral principles for teachers.
There are 4 sections, these being:

• Commitment to the learner
• Commitment to the profession
• Commitment to parents/family/whanau/caregivers
• Commitment to society

Evidence 2.) Notes taken in class, 25th January

What is the purpose of schooling?

The National Education Goals have 10 goals which are said to reflect this. They are dependent of the government of the time

National Administration Guidelines - state what the B.O.Ts and teachers must do in regard to reporting school details, student achievement and admin.

New Zealand Curriculum - very reflective of the government of the time.  Can be interpreted by schools in a way that is relevant to them.  Is based on the philosophy  - don't do it all, more in depth learning, do what is necessary for the school.  

The curriculum is how you justify what you are doing as long comply with values, principles etc, you can decide what you will do in your classroom.

Hidden curriculum - what we teach through the implicit messages we send in the classroom through our language and actions.  Need to aware of this, and make sure the messages we are sending work to construct an inclusive classroom.

NZC is made up of 5 parts

• values
• principles
• key competencies
• learning areas
• vision

The key competencies are as follow

• Thinking - cognitive process of making sense of information, experiences
• Using Language, Text and Symbols - expressing and understanding codes, those who are competent are effectively able to express themselves and understand texts in depth
• Managing Self - independence, know when and how to act in social situations
• Relating to others - interacting with others in an effective, positive way.  Adapting to others, working with others

Visions - what kind of people we want to develop, confident, connected, positive about their own identity

Principles - foundation for the curriculum, 8 which relate to aspects that are important when 'creating' good citizens.

Learning Areas - 8 of these, each has their own language.  All learning areas should link together

Values - Not only reflected in learning, reflected in individuals, not just specially applied in schools, e.g also in community.  Reflected in schools philosophies.

Evidence 3.) Reflection from reading:  Teachers and Professional Ethics.  In C. McGee and D. Fraser (Eds.), The professional practice of teaching (pp. 266-290).

This reading discussed the responsibilities teachers have in regard to providing students with the best possible teaching, ensuring students are treated respectfully and ethically and that they have access to a safe classroom environment.  As a teacher I must always abide by the code of ethics and keep a professional stance at all times when interacting with students.I believe it is of the teachers best interest to inform others when considering making ethical decisions to ensure all legal aspects are being taken into consideration and to get some outside perspective, particularly if the decision is controversial and/or sensitive.