BOOK CHAPTER REVIEW ON AN ETHICAL ISSUE

PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICS IN TEACHING BY DAVID CARR

CHAPTER 5: PARTICULAR ISSUES

13- ETHICAL ISSUES CONCERNING EDUCATION AND SCHOOLING

NAME: SOFEA BATRISYIA BINTI SULAIMAN

NO. MATRIX: U2004405/1

COURSE: PIX3004 AKHLAK AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

NAME OF LECTURER: DR MOHAMMAD ISMATH RAMZY MOHAMMAD ISMAIL

INTRODUCTION

This book chapter review deeply emphasises the matter of “ Ethical Issues Concerning
Education and Schooling” retrieved from the book entitled “Professionalism and Ethics in
Teaching” written by David Carr that was initially published in the year 2000. This topic
discusses social and moral issues with respect to education. Firstly, this review will summarise
and outline the contents from the chapters in the article, then moving on to analysing the
methodology used to acquire the data. Thirdly, I shall discuss the article by explaining the data
retrieved followed by the input I have learned from the author’s argument and lastly to share my
personal experience. In the final chapter of the book which is ethical issues concerning education
and schooling, this chapter tells us about the character implicatedness of teacher professionalism
where the author focuses on. Next, this chapter covered the hazards or problems that surfaced
due to managerialism, followed by equality and difference, school administration: democracy vs
autocracy, and continued intra-school value conflict. Lastly, the author finished off with
educational principle and anti-educational interests.
METHODOLOGY

The author, David Carr, had presented his arguments using several methodologies. A
total of 18 references had to be used for this chapter. They include material regarding the
criticals of managerialism from multiple sources including The Morality of the School, 1990 and
The Ethics of Educational Management, 1992 both written by Mike Bottery. Next, the author
extracted data regarding growing school management literature in relation to educational climate
and ethos from Using Ethos Indicators in Primary/Secondary School Self- Evaluation: Taking
Account of the Views of Pupils, Parents and Teacher, 1992 by the Scottish Office Education
Department. In continuation, David Carr also took several points off Ethics and Education,
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1966 written by Richard Stanley Peters in regards to the
hazards of managerialism. Furthermore, the author also noted the best modern example of liberal
model rationalism from the Essays on Moral Development: Volumes I-III, New York: Harper
Row, 1984, written by Lawrence Kohlberg. The author also extracted from Education and the
Market, 1994 written by David Bridges and Terence H. McLaughlin regarding problems
related to education and the market.
DISCUSSION

The author argued that the professionalism character of a teacher is somewhat

complicated as compared to other occupations. He stated that the act of teaching portrays the
same vocation as a religious ministry. The author stated that teachers are possibly going to attract
criticism for their way of living which might be believed unimportant to the effective
professional practice of other courses such as medicine or law. It may be thought that so long as
the teacher, doctor or lawyer obeys the stated rules and skills of sound professional practice, all
will be well in practice. He then continues his arguments through the methods stated earlier in
methodology.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

Recommendations that I would suggest regarding the ethical issues concerning education
and schooling would be:

1. School administration should encourage the greatest possible openness to the many
different kinds of people or things of views and values which come their way.
2. The school should cultivate a positive ethos among the students and teachers so that
the relationship between students and teachers could be strengthened.

To conclude, there are many ways to maintain an excellent education system and good school
environment as suggested in this chapter. Cooperation between the students and teachers can
help make a healthy environment in school and a perfect education system could be achieved.
WHAT DID I LEARN FROM HIS ARGUMENT

Based on the argument presented by David Carr, I’ve learned that there are many ethical
issues that should be addressed concerning education and schooling. I believe that in order to
achieve a healthy environment and excellent education system, the people that are
responsible for the harmony and equality of the system should be morally good. Not only
that, but they also need to portray good behaviour along with putting effort to make the
school a perfect place for education without experiencing any ethical issues. I strongly agree
with his standpoint when he mentioned that school needs to cultivate a positive ethos.
Moreover, he also agrees that there seems to be no obvious reason why professional courses
of training in school management could not explore (success plans/ways of reaching goals)
for making something available to, and controlled by, all people of educational institutions,
allowing wider range for the involvement of other staff, and even pupils, in the creation of
school policy. I thought that the creation of school policy should only be discussed within the
high committee without involving staff and pupils but after reading his arguments, I believe
that everyone in this system has the right to be in the creation of school policy in order to
create a healthy environment.
WHAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE

Throughout my experience, I have never been in a healthy and positive school

environment. Everything is a competition, and the management was not really good at
handling ethical issues in school-- be it, school teachers or staff members. For example,
there were disrespectful and sexist issues in the school management. Some of the male
teachers are a pervert and always bother female students. Not only that, but teachers also
prioritised male students more than female students as they think that girls cannot do the
work assigned for ‘boys’ such as being the head of the prefects or leading a group
organisation. However, in this book, Carr presented several suggestions and presented on
the ethical issues that can be improved in education and schooling. I learned a lot by
reading and understanding his arguments as it is so relatable to what I have experienced
back then in school.

(997 words)
References

Carr, D. (1999). Ethical issues concerning education and schooling. In R. Chadwick (Ed.).
Professionalism and Ethics in Teaching (1st edition ed,. pp. 221-238). 11 New Fetter
Lane, London: Routledge.