Introduction

School by definition is an institution that aims to educate people. It is considered

as the student’s second home. This institution is consists of the administration,
organization, non-teaching personnel, maintenance, students and most especially,
teachers.
The main goal of the school is to educate people through the teachers. Teacher
was clearly defined as the person who educate, impart knowledge and who teaches by
Merriam Webster and these persons are considered as the second parents of the
student.
Students are spending most of their time in schools with Ma’am, Sir, Professor,
or any term that they use to call their teachers. In the Philippines, most of the primary
and secondary schools spend 6 hours a day, from Monday to Friday for 10 months or
whole school year and students must spend 12 years studying before they go to the
tertiary level. This only means that the students are exposed with their teachers that
contribute to their attitude, knowledge, behavior and character. They are great
influencers in the lives of the students.
According to Henry Brook Adam an American Historian that teachers affect the
students for life long period and nobody can tell where and when their influence stops.
This only means that the teacher that students had way back on their primary level still
could affect their performance, attitude and behavior in the present. It is evident on how
do students act, and look at a certain thing. An Australian research conducted by John
Hattie (2003) that teachers make difference on the student’s life and learning. It has the
greatest variance of 30% compare to Peer, Home, Principals and schools. The
Australian researcher suggested that the department should focus more on the teachers
to produce more of the quality students because they influence the students more than
any other factors. This finding and suggestion were supported by Research on literacy
and numeracy test scores, from Australian National University’s Andrew Leigh.
Truly those teachers can really make a difference in the lives of every student.
There are teachers who inspire the students to become educator, and motivate them to
fight in the battle of lives. Teachers really not just teacher but they are family. They can
be a parent, a sister/brother and a friend.
On the other hand, there are issues reported in media and got viral on the social
networking sites are the stories of the teachers who violated the Code of Ethics and
showed unethical acts such as violence, unacceptable terms and unprofessional
actions.
It is stated in many studies that teacher’s influence, can greatly affect the student
themselves whether it is a good or bad influence. What will be the result if the violation
to the Code of Ethics gets worse? What will happen to the hope of the nation? How will
it affect the future generation?
The Case Itself
Abused during CVIRAA, complaint filed vs teacher who ‘sexually violated’ boy
By Mylen P. Manto, Jessa J. Agua, Garry B. Lao
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 
CEBU, Philippines - Asturias, Cebu police have filed a criminal complaint for child abuse
yesterday against an elementary school teacher who allegedly sexually abused a Grade
6 student.
The complaint was placed under preliminary investigation before the Cebu Provincial
Prosecutor’s Office.
The 11-year-old victim alleged that he was molested by the Talisay City Central School
teacher on February 26 during the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association in
Asturias town.
The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the parties due to the nature of the case.
Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said the incident has placed Talisay City in a bad light the
teacher should be sanctioned, saying he felt ashamed over what the suspect did.
“Bati kaayo nga balita nga misugat nako sa akong pag-adto sa Balamban. Unta
congratulations ilang isugat nako pag-abot didto, pero gisugat ra man ko og ngil-ad
kaayo nga balita. Kinahanglang madisiplina gyud ang maong teacher," De los Reyes
said.
Based on a report, Dr. Lea Noveras, Talisay City Schools Division superintendent, said
the incident happened outside the classroom, while athletes, coaches, and teachers
gathered and prayed for the success of their team.
Noveras said the minor was allegedly called by the teacher and brought at the back of
the room, where he allegedly took advantage of the minor inside a multicab.
According to a police report, the student reportedly received P100 from the teacher,
who instructed him not to tell anyone about what had happened.
It was on February 28 when the minor confessed to his coach what the 27-year-old
teacher did to him. They then reported the matter to the Asturias Police Station Women
and Children’s Protection Desk, which filed against the teacher a complaint for violating
Republic Act (RA) 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse,
Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The minor was immediately placed under medical examination after that.
Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 Children Sector Focal Person Grace
Yana said psychosocial intervention must be done to the victim to prevent him from
developing a more serious condition like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"If left untreated, the situation develops into PTSD. This is the worst scenario that could
happen, where professional therapists and psychologists' help is needed. It is important
that the child expresses his feeling and thoughts, especially to his family," Yana said.
She told The FREEMAN they are closely coordinating with their Talisay City
counterparts in making sure that the child gets enough psychological and emotional
intervention.
"So far, our help is still not needed because we have the city social welfare office in
Talisay as frontliners. But we at the regional office can provide technical assistance
should they need any,” Yana said.
“It is very important for the child to be removed from the situation or environment where
he experienced the trauma and that his family and friends surround him with positive
regard and support that he needs," she added.
Yana said the psychosocial intervention is best done simultaneous with the police
blotter and medico-legal processes and not later since the experience is still fresh.
A traumatized child could display the following behaviors: blank stare, episodes of bad
dreams, lack of appetite for food, among others.
Yana said that teachers in the region have been trained to conduct psychosocial
intervention as trainings were conducted after the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon
Yolanda in 2013.
"So even if social workers are not readily available, some teachers can process the
victim to lighten the burden of the ones traumatized," the DSWD-7 official said.
Meanwhile, in yesterday's Talisay City Council session, Councilor Richard Francis
Aznar called on the Department of Education to investigate the matter.
"As a legislator, a concerned citizen, and a parent, I request that our DepEd would
investigate the incident and propose measures to avoid similar incidents from
happening again," said the council committee on education chairman.
Aznar, whose family owns a university in Cebu, said he was saddened by the incident,
as he has a very high regard of teachers and look up to them as second parents while
he was still a student.
"Let the proposed guidelines protect our children and teachers so that we, as parents,
will be confident when entrusting our children to them, and then the teachers will be
confident in their profession since they know they are admired and trusted," he said.
Summary
On February 26, 2015 in Asutrias, Cebu, an 11 years old Grade Six boy student
was allegedly sexually abused and molested by the Talisay City Central School teacher
during the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association. Asturias, Cebu police have
filed a criminal complaint for child abuse against the teacher and the complaint was
placed under preliminary investigation before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
The incident happened in a multicab outside the classroom, while athletes,
coaches, and teachers gathered and prayed for the success of their team. The minor
even received P100 from the teacher and instructed him not to tell anyone about what
had happened.
Grace Yana from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 Children
Sector Focal Person sain that psychosocial intervention must be done to the victim to
prevent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
As what Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar requesting that DepEd
would investigate the incident and propose measures to avoid similar incidents from
happening again. At the end, the teacher who is responsible for the incident faced his
sanction- crime raps for sex abuse of 11-year-old boy .
Body
Moral Responsibility defines the extent to which a person deserves blame or
punishment, praise or reward, or should pay compensation for having done something
wrong or having wrongfully harm person, this person did so know what he or she is
doing (knowledge) and did so according to his/her own free will (freedom).

The Teacher on the chosen case is morally responsible mainly because he is

able to foresee the evil result or effect, at least, in a general way and he is free to refrain
from doing that which would produce the foreseen evil.

The Teacher in the case who sexually violated the boy has also a legal
responsibility over his act because he defies and violated the laws or legal standards
set by our government particularly the Republic act 7877 an act declaring sexual
harassment unlawful in the employment, education or training environment and sexual
advance or sexual favors is a strong violation of Human Rights Code, and for other
purposes that is strictly enforced by the state which has definite sanctions; fines,
imprisonment, and worst death.

A code of ethics and legal standards is important because it clearly lays you the
rules for behavior and provides the groundwork for a preemptive warning to improve the
administration of justice. Professional ethic is like a guide, which facilitate the teacher to
provide quality education and inculcate good values among the learners. The code of
ethics for teachers is designed to protect the rights of the students, all the students. It is
important that teachers understand that when they get a teaching position, they are
agreeing to follow the code of ethics.

Teachers are expected to be fair to all their students and to not take advantage
of their position in any way and in any situation. For example, you can’t accept
expensive gifts from the students because it might appear to bias you. You can’t push
your personal beliefs and wants on the students because they are a “captive audience”.
You need to have a professional relationship with all students and not let it get too
casual and familiar. And all should be with accordance with the Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers.

Apparently, there is a quite a bit or might be a lot of abuse that is happening in

the school, like for example is the abovementioned case. As a Teacher they need to
protect their students’ safety and not believe that this is someone else’s job. The main
thing is to not abuse the power that the position given to them, over their students,
might give them. Their role is not just to become supreme and authoritarian in front of
their students and colleagues but to be a good example.

Teaching can be a difficult profession. It requires them to be a moral exemplar in

and out the classroom which is also stated in the Code of Ethics for Professional
Teachers Article XI: The Teacher as a Person, Section 3. A teacher shall maintain at all
times a dignified personality which could serve as a model worthy of emulation by
learners, peers and all others. Being a role model, you are expected to act with
accordance with the moral standards and to have a self-discipline to rule over yourself
even you’re in the state of libidinous unlike what the teacher in the case had done. The
teacher took advantage of the situation and use his superiority to manipulate the
innocent Grade 6 student to satisfy his own momentary pleasure and even try to bribe
the boy with money which is obviously overall unethical. And according to Article XI:
The Teacher as a Person, Section 2. A teacher shall place premium upon self-discipline
as the primary principles of personal behavior in all relationship with others and in all
situations, which the aforementioned teacher lacks. A teacher shall ensure that
conditions contribute to the maximum development of learners are adequate, and shall
extend needed assistance in preventing or solving learner’s problem and difficulties
(Article VII, Section 9) not to give them one and traumatize them. Psychological effects
of sexual harassments may include anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, loss of
appetite, inability to concentrate, lowered self-esteem, loss of interest in regular
activities, social isolation, and feelings of sadness, fear or shame, which the (victim) boy
somewhat experienced. An act must be always respectful to human dignity, that is, it
should not use or treat person as means, instrument or tools for others ends to satisfy
their own pleasures. Act always so as treat humanity, whether in your own person or in
that of another, always as an end, and never as a mere means.

Think through the implications of what happens It shall be the responsibility of

every teacher to seek for correctives for what he may appear to be an unprofessional
and unethical conduct of any associates.
 Also, our country separates “church and state”. Whether you agree with this or
not, as a teacher you need to respect this and keep religious bias out of the classroom
because they are a captive audience and should always think through what really is
your main objective being in this institution, which is to teach. If your code of ethics is
strong, you should be able to make decisions on the spot and have the conviction to
bear.

Evaluation
Teaching is a noble profession who possesses dignity and reputation with high
moral values. It is noble because only wise men can teach that requires competence.
All people have dignity as we born especially teachers, through their knowledge and
inspirations that they give to each students. Lastly, they have reputation for the reason
that they strictly adhere to, observe, and practice ethical and moral principles, standards
and values.
Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article 11, of R.A. No. 7836,
otherwise known as the Philippines Professionalization Act of 1994 and Paragraph (a),
section 6, P.D. No. 223, as amended, the Board for Professional Teachers hereby
adopt the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.
It clearly stated in the Article 2 Section 1 of the Code of Ethics for Professional
Teachers that teachers have the obligation to elevate national morality of the students
through the way they teach and interact with them. Morality shows the distinction
between right and wrong and good or bad behaviour, and with the case
abovementioned, it is noticeable that the teacher who is responsible for the incident did
not take considered of this for what he had done.
Article 3 Section 7 states that every teacher shall maintain harmonious and
pleasant personal and official relations with people but he has not allowed to use his
position and influence to other people for his own pleasure that was not considered at
the abovementioned case at all. Moreover, he did not obey the Article 3 Section 3 that
every teacher shall refrain for such illicit relations.
With what was happen in the incident, Article 4 Section 1 was affected telling that
teaching is the noblest profession that manifest genuine enthusiasm, though not all
teachers do this kind of act, teachers has somehow being judge by the people.
Article 8 of Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers includes the teachers and
the learners. Section 2 of the Article said that a teacher shall recognize that the interest
and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concerns, and shall deal justifiable and
impartially with each of them. It is their responsibility to promote the goodness among
learners even those who are not their students. What the teacher did is contrary not
only to the their Code of Ethics but also to the law where it has been provided.
It is also contrary to the Article 11 Section 2 that a teacher shall place premium
upon self-discipline as the primary principle of personal behaviour with others and in all
situations, here, the teacher did not restraint on control himself doing that incident and
though this, he was not able to show full self-discipline. For this time, that teacher will
not gain the respect of learners, peers; all others because of what he have done
because he did not maintain a dignified personality just what is stated in Section 3.
With the incident happened, Article 12 contains Disciplinary Actions to be done
and said that any violation of Code of Ethics for the Professional Teachers shall be
sufficient ground for the imposition against the erring teacher of the disciplary action
consisting or revocation of his Certification of Registration and License as a
Professional Teacher, suspension from the practice of teaching profession, reprimand
or cancellation of his temporary/special permit under causes specified in Sec. 23, Article
III or R.A. No. 7836, and under Rule 31, Article VIII, of the Rules and Regulations
Implementing R.A. 7836.

Conclusion