MEM 647: PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND VALUES IN EDUCATION

Moral and Ethical Issues in Education

By: Emelita A. Victor

I. Introduction

“A child effects as well is affected by the settings in which she spends time.”
-Bronfenbrenner, 1979

In this contemporary day and age, we are in a world that revolves around beliefs, laws,
rules and norms about how we are expected to live and behave. It is really important to know the
ethics of the society in which we belong, as it helps us to identify moral values whose application
improves our existence and balances our individual and social lives.

Waller (1932) had written that ‘every school has a culture of its own, with set of rituals
and folkways and a moral code or cultural values that shape behavior and relationships’. School
is one of the agents and sculptors of an individual’s morality, so it is fact that Education has a
great impact on students’ ethical and moral development. However, the field of Education itself
has been facing various moral and ethical issues since time memorial.

The main aim of this paper is to identify and examine the moral and ethical issues in
education present today. These issues and dilemmas, when explored and dealt with properly, can
create panacea in the existing predicaments in education, and can contribute positively to the
ethical and moral education of children, who are the future of our society.

II. Discussion:

This section presents and discusses the information gathered and analyzed about the moral
and ethical issues in education. The discussion will start with a brief description of the difference
between morality and ethics, followed by enumerated moral and ethical issues in education as
observed in the 21st century and afterwards, the summary of all the findings.

1. Morality vs Ethics

Some philosophers and scholars do not really differentiate morals and ethics. Both have to
do with “right and wrong.” However, when considering the difference between ethics and morals,
it may be helpful to keep in mind that Morals define personal character, while Ethics stress a
social system in which those morals are applied.

That is to say, ethics point to standards or codes of behavior expected by the group in
which the individual belongs to, which can be national ethics, social ethics, company ethics,
professional ethics, or even family ethics. So while a person’s moral code is usually unchanging,
the ethics he or she practices can be dependent in others.
 2. Major issues in Ethics and Morality

Nowadays, the difference between right and wrong is made clear by laws and legal
provisions in education, like in the Philippines, where Code of Ethics of Professional Teachers is
the standard. This code of ethics, which are drawn from philosophical principles, provide
guidance for educators to make judgments. Some ethical and moral issues faced by people in the
education field are as follows:

2.1 Assessment

Student assessment is a critical aspect of the teaching and learning process. The
assessment system is facing many challenges that need to be understood and addressed for better
learning outcomes. The challenges can be related to the assessment of students, teachers,
educational boards, technology, social and ethical issues. Each challenge in the assessment
system needs to be analyzed properly. Teachers must be honest and promise this ethical habit.
Falsification of data or information related to assessment violates every model of ethical conduct
and law.

Teachers play a major role in assessing students for their performance. However, some
tests are subjective,and teachers’ favorability, mood, and other personal issues might affect the
grades of the students. Lastly, teachers assess the performance of students based on their tests,
exams, assignments and projects. There is no way developed that a student can know their
assessment process and grading technique. There is a lack of transparency in the assessment
system.

2.2 Gender and social inequality

Gender and social inequality is still a huge problem that is one of the hindrances in the way of
educational growth. In some countries in the world, girls still can’t go to school because the
mindset is that they are born to do the household works.

2.3 Bullying

Bullying setbacks students’ sense of security, making them feel unsafe in their world.
They may suffer from anxiety about going to school or participating in class which only leads to
further loss of interest and reduced academic performance.

2.4 Conduct

Conduct is one of the most relevant aspect of ethical practices. Conduct can include boundary
violations, abuse or improper relationships. In the education context, teachers should have vision,
hope and creativity.

a. Abuse

It is a fact that abused and neglected children are at higher risk for lower academic
achievement. Additionally, studies show that children who have suffered from neglect exhibit
lower academic achievement children who were physically abused. Mistreated children have a
greater instance of exhibiting poor social skills and classroom behavior problems.

b. Boundary Violations

While connecting with one’s students and building a rapport is an important component of
teaching, an educator must adhere to appropriate standards of conduct with students at all times,
both on and off campus. There is a real danger in building relationships with students. There is a
line that can never be crossed. If teachers try to connect with students on their level–in a peer-to-
peer-like friendship–then teachers’ efforts to influence students behavior will backfire, in a sense
that there will be a struggle in classroom management.

c. Improper relationships

It is considered a forbidden act for teachers to fall for their students. As teachers, they
stand in loco parentis as regards their minor wards. A student on the other hand is vulnerable and
therefore protected by laws against abuses such as RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children
Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; and RA 7877, or the Anti-Sexual
Harassment Act of 1995.

2.5 Lesson Planning

Good planning is a part of the commitment that every teacher needs to make as a
professional. Remember, teachers are committed to prudence. A prudent teacher creates the right
goals and selects the best means to accomplish the goals. However, some teachers who are very
busy often neglect to do lesson planning, or they will just do it later but will show up in class
without anything in mind, and without ever achieving its objective, and the students may never
achieve the objectives of the course.

2.6 Trauma-informed teaching

Traumatic situations like the coronavirus pandemic or the mass protests about racial
injustice can negatively impact how teachers teach and how the students learn. Students might be
more distracted or take longer to complete tasks. Teachers might feel more irritable or bothered.
Students experiencing trauma are more likely to fall behind in class or get in trouble for behavior
issues. Understanding trauma and its impact on teaching and learning can help you find strategies
that can help.

2.7 Diversity

Diversity among students in education directly impacts their performance. Educators and
administrative leaders can help students better understand that while everyone is different, in the
most fundamental ways, everyone is the same and should be treated with respect. However, some
ethical and moral issues in education when it comes to diversity include issues in religion,
economic background, and racism.
 a. Religion

A growing body of research has consistently indicated that the frequency of religious
practice is significantly and directly related to academic outcomes and educational attainment.
Religiously involved students spend more time on their homework, work harder in school and
achieve more as a result. For at-risk youth, religious practice reduces socially deviant behavior.
Regular religious attendance increases the internalization of traditional values and norms,
strengthens a sense of internal locus of control and dis

b. Socioeconomic background

Increasing evidence supports the link between lower socioeconomic status and learning
disabilities or other negative psychological outcomes that affect academic achievement. Children
from poor family are less likely to have experiences that encourage the development of
fundamental skills of reading acquisition, such as phonological awareness, vocabulary, and oral
language (Buckingham, Wheldall, & Beaman-Wheldall, 2013).

c. Racism

Racial bias in the schools affects student learning and school discipline, as well as
influences how students engage with each other. Negative racial attitudes and behaviors are
ingrained in the education system and institutions.

2.8 Discipline Issues and Classroom management

One of the most important components of effective teaching is classroom management

and dealing with discipline issues. When students act out in a variety of ways, impacting those
around them and their ability to learn. Disrespect, defiance, bullying, and aggression, where
students become physically or verbally violent are the most common disciplinary problems and
challenges in classroom management.

2.9 Vast and Varied Syllabus Lacking Relevance

The vast and varied syllabus in education is one of the ethical issues the system is facing.
The huge, irrelevant syllabus makes it hard for the students to prepare themselves for the future
because the world is now getting ready for digitalization and mugging up theories is not the right
way.

2.10 Plagiarism

Plagiarism has stained our education system for long. The reason behind highlighting this
problem is that people, especially in our society are unaware of the consequences of this practice,
and it is deemed normal without any sense of guilt or dishonesty. Students, particularly those in
college, are expected to adhere to rigorous codes of conduct that stress academic integrity,
including prohibitions against plagiarism. Still, students continue to plagiarize and even teachers,
who do not give copyright to the references they use in teaching.
2.11 Mental health issues

a. Students

“We believe, Mr. President, that big challenge for our people in government under the present
psychosocial conditions are the children and the teachers — the general mental health issues,”,
Sec. Briones said in reference to a student who commited suicide due to some factors such as the
COVID-19 pandemic. There is an alarming rate of suicide commited by students, and this is a
really serious problem in the education sector.

b. Teachers

Teaching is one of the professions most prone to the development of stress, depression
and anxiety due to a combination of aspects with multifaceted characteristics associated with
work activity. Stress and depression can interfere with teachers' daily activities, especially at
work, impairing their performance. The suicide incident of a Leyte teacher last 2018 is a wake-up
call for public school teachers to learn how to manage work pressures. One common dilemma
faced by many teachers, and probably the most frequent ethical dilemma in any workplace, is the
problem of balancing professional obligations with private, family matters.

Summary of findings:

Ethics and morals relate to “right” and “wrong” conduct. There are numerous moral and
ethical issues that students, teachers, administrators, and other personnel in the academe are
facing in the present time. These are: Assessment, Gender and Social inequality, Bullying,
Conduct, which includes Abuse, Boundary Violations and Improper relationships. Other issues
are Lesson Planning, Trauma-informed teaching, Diversity in religion, socioeconomic status and
race, Discipline Issues and Classroom management, Vast and Varied Syllabus Lacking
Relevance, Plagiarism, and Mental health issues of both students and teachers.

III. Conclusion

On the basis of the above discussion , I may come to this conclusion: The education system
all over the world is facing a multitude of serious moral and ethical dilemmas that hinders its
growth and development. As what Freiberg (1998) said, school culture is similar to the air we
breathe. No one notices it unless it becomes polluted. Though we are witnessing growth in
education system gradually, if we can fix these moral and ethical issues now, it will double the
rate of growth than it is now.

With all of that, today’s teachers — prospective, new and veteran — also face growing moral
and ethical challenges. Discussing relevant ethical cases deepens their under standing and their
sense of professionalism. Core values can and should be taught everywhere: from home to
society, including school, and teachers play a vital role in that, while ensuring that there’s a
broader and deeper implementation. It is really important for educators to know, discuss and
explore the moral and ethical issues in education to be good at making personal and professional
decisions. Application of a code of ethics helps educators to be assured that members of the
profession will be accountable for their actions. It gives everyone in the education field a deeper
understanding of the responsibilities they have for themselves, their colleagues and to the social
structure of the profession.

References:

Aguilar, K. (2020). Inquirer.net. Mental health of students, teachers a ‘big challenge’

amid pandemic – DepEd chief. Retrieved from: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1329506/deped-
confirms-one-student-died-by-suicide-says-mental-health-a-big-challenge-amid-
pandemic#ixzz6jb94kGzH

Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (Eds.). (2000). How people learn:
Brain, mind, experience and school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press

Buckingham, J., Wheldall, K., & Beaman-Wheldall, R. (2013). Why poor children are
more likely to become poor readers: The school years. Australian Journal of Education, 57, 190-
213. doi:10.1177/0004944113495500

Freiberg, H. J. Measuring school climate: Let me count the ways. Educational Leadership.
1998, 56 (1), 22-26.

Waller, W.W. The Sociology of Teaching. Wiley. 1932.