Theory 2 – The Teaching Profession

CHAPTER 3 - LESSON 2: The Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers: Relationship with the
Secondary and Tertiary Stakeholders

A. The Teacher and the State

INTRODUCTION

The education of a child is not the sole responsibility of school heads and teachers. In fact, school heads
and teachers cannot do it by themselves. As the African proverb says, “It takes a whole village to raise a
child.” The code of ethics cites different groups of external stakeholders with whom schools and teachers
have to relate and work for the education of the child. These are the state (Article 1I), the Community
(Article III) and parents (Article IX). Secondary stakeholders indirectly receive the service. These are the
learners' parents. Tertiary stakeholders are indirect but crucial participants in the process of children's
education. These are the future employers, the government or the state and society in general. (Source:
DepEd Continuous Improvement - Project Learning Guide p. 26)

ARTICLE II
THE TEACHER AND THE STATE
Section 1. The schools are the nurseries of the citizens of the state. Each teacher is a trustee of the
cultural and educational heritage of the nation and is under obligation to transmit to learners such
heritage as well as to elevate national morality promote national pride, cultivate love of country, instill
allegiance to the Constitution and respect for all duly constituted authorities, and promote obedience to
the laws of the state.

Section 2. Every teacher or school official shall actively help carry out the declared policies of the state
and shall take an oath to this effect.

Section 3. In the interest of the State of the Filipino people as much as of his own, every teacher shall be
physically, mentally, and morally fit.

Section 4. Every teacher shall possess and actualize full commitment and devotion to duty.

Section 5. A teacher shall not engage in the promotion of any political, religious, or other partisan
interest, and shall not, directly, or indirectly, solicit, require, collect, or receive any money, service, other
valuable material from any person or entity for such purposes.

Section 6. Every teacher shall vote and shall exercise all other constitutional rights and responsibilities.

Section 7. A teacher shall not use his position or official authority of influence to coerce any other person
to follow any political course of action.

Section 8. Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom and shall have the privilege of sharing the product
of his research and investigations, provided that, if the results are inimical to the declared policies of the
State, they shall be drawn to the proper authorities for appropriate remedial action.

ANALYSIS: Let’s Analyze

Answer the following questions:
Article II
1. The schools are the "nurseries of the citizens of the state." What are nurseries for? Why are schools
called the "nurseries of the citizens of the state?"
2. "Each teacher is a trustee of the cultural and educational heritage of the nation and is under obligation
to transmit to learn such heritage." In what ways can teachers do this?
3. In what ways can the professional teacher help elevate national morality, promote national pride and
cultivate love of country?
4. What steps do employers take to ensure that a teacher is physically, mentally and morally fit?
5. Cite actions of a professional teacher that violate Section 5, Article II.
6. How can a professional teacher violate Sec. 6 and Section 7 of Article I1?
7. Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom. What does academic freedom mean? Is this academic
freedom absolute?

ABSTRACTION: Let’s Add to What You Know

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines a "nursery" as a place where babies and young children are
cared for while their parents are somewhere else." In horticulture, a nursery is a place where young
plants and trees are cultivated and grown.

Both definitions may apply to the statement in the Code of Ethics: "schools are the nurseries of the
citizens of the state:" Indeed parents leave their children in schools under the care of teachers while they
work. Like nurseries where young plants are cultivated and grown, schools through teachers are
entrusted with the noble task of instilling pride in leaners one's cultural and educational heritage, love of
country and in sowing the seeds of national morality.

These are many things in our Filipino culture that we can be proud of and are therefore worth preserving
and passing on to maintain Filipino identity, promote national pride and cultivate love of country.

Every teacher is expected to be fit or else cannot perform his/her function. Pursuant to Sec. 22 (Medical
Examination and Treatment) of RA 4670 otherwise known as the Magna Carta to Public School Teachers,
teachers shall undergo annual physical examination free of charge not less than once a year during the
teacher's professional life.

As a professional, the teacher is expected not to take advantage of his/her position or power to promote
his/her own interest whether political nor religious, nor to solicit, require or collect any money, service
or material from any person.

A professional teacher violates Section 6 of Article II if he/she fails to vote for no justifiable reason. Voting
is teacher's participation in the affairs of the state.

He/she also violates Section 7 of Article II if he/she engages in partisan politics. Teachers have to
preserve the dignity of the education sector by not engaging directly or indirectly in electioneering except
to vote. Engaging in partisan politics is teacher's abuse of authority.

The professional teacher shall enjoy academic freedom so he/she can share the product of his/her
researches and investigations in support of the endless search for truth. However, this academic freedom
is not absolute. It has limits. If the research findings are damaging to the state, the research results shall
be submitted to the proper authorities for appropriate action.

SYNAPSE STRENGTHENERS
1. Here are survey results from the American Federation of Teachers: 78% of teachers express
overwhelming levels of stress but only 17% leave the profession within the first 5 years.

Read research on mental health of Filipino teachers and share your findings in class.

2. Read the definition of teachers in the Education Act of 1982. (See Appendix I. Is this definition of
teachers the same with that of the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers? If not, any difference?

B. The Teacher and the Community

INTRODUCTION

The teacher works in, for and with the community. He/she rubs elbows with the leaders and members of
the community who, like him/her, aspire for the development of the young. He/ she works in a
community with its own established customs and traditions which are sometimes different from the
practices of the community where he/she belongs.

In this part of Lesson 2, we will look at how you, as professional teacher, should relate with the
community, another group of tertiary stakeholders.

Activity: Let’s Read These

Read Article II of the Code of Ethics then do the activity as directed.

ARTICLE III
THE TEACHER AND THE COMMUNITY

Section 1. A teacher is a facilitator of learning and of the development of the youth; he shall, therefore,
render the best services by providing an environment and growth.

Teachers are facilitator of learning and the development of the student.

Teacher needs to provide an environment for

Section 2. Every teacher shall provide leadership and initiative to actively participate in community
movements for moral, social, educational, economic, and civic betterment.

Teachers are really shown that they can be a leader, or they can participate in the community.
Election - Teachers are the one who are inside the rooms, they are the one who monitors the voters.

 Of all profession? Why teachers are the one who are assigned in this type of event?
 Teachers are trustworthy.
 Part of the Code of Ethics of the teachers is that we should not promote any candidate or
politicians. We are not allowed to promote any party list.
 Teachers are the one being tasked to monitor the voters and to tally the votes.
 They know how the teacher works. How a teacher acts and if you really follow the professional
ethics for teachers then you will be really trusted.

It is a must that teachers have a very good relationship with the community. We have to extend our hand
in the community. There are some activities that we can do in order to be a help to our community, in
order to be a help to improve the community.
  Community Services
 “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a
lifetime.”
 We can help the children that don’t have the chance to study by giving them books and making
time to teach them even in the most simple and little ways.
 You should be initiative to help the community. Always extend your help.
 As a teacher, we also have role to fulfill outside the school which is the community.

Section 3. Every teacher shall merit reasonable social recognition for which purpose he shall behave
with honor and dignity at all times and refrain from such activities as gambling, smoking, conducive to
such learning drunkenness and other excesses, much less illicit relations.

A teacher must set a good example for everyone especially in their community.
Prevent doing things that are inappropriate.

Section 4. Every teacher shall help the school keep the people in the community, and shall, therefore,
study and understand local customs and traditions in order to have a sympathetic attitude, therefore,
refrain from disparaging the community.

Not all teachers are teaching in their own place or own community. There are teachers who are assigned
in other community or another place.
And as a teacher, you have to adapt to their community for you to belong. You have to respect their
beliefs and traditions.

Section 5. Every teacher shall help the school keep the people in the community informed about the
school's work and accomplishments as well as its needs and problems.

School is a big part in the community. Therefore, as a teacher you need to inform the people around the
community about the school. They need to know what’s going on the school. Because not all students are
opening and updating their parents on what happened in the school.

Inform them on what the student needs and what the school needs.
Even when we have activities in school. The community should be invited.
PTA and Conferences in order for them to be inform about all the activities that we are having the school.
Community is really a big help especially to the public schools. They provide help and support to the
school.

Section 6. Every teacher is an intellectual leader community, especially in the in the barangay, and shall
welcome the opportunity to provide such leadership when needed, to extend counseling services, as
appropriate, and to actively be involved in matters affecting the welfare of the people.

Teachers have a lot of opportunities to speak on the big crowds or in the community.

Section 7. Every teacher shall maintain harmonious and pleasant personal and official relations with
other professionals, with government officials, and with the people, individually or collectively.

Respect other profession and don’t take for granted your profession.
Everything will follow if you are respect.

Section 8. A teacher possesses freedom to attend church and worship, as appropriate, but shall not use
his position and influence on proselyte others.
Don’t take advantage your profession to evangelize the students.
We are free to attend churches, but we need to make sure that we do not influence our students or other
people because we have our own beliefs. We have the freedom to choose our religion.
Show your fairness and show that you are not bias.
Teachers are known to be fair and have this code of ethics that is really being followed by them.

Below are key words which you have to locate in Article III of the Code of Ethics. Find them and read that
section that contains the word/words again. Be ready to answer the questions in the Analysis phase of
this Lesson

Not use
Facilitator of Conducive leadership position to
learning environment proselyte

Harmonious Disparaging Social

Community
official the recognition
informed
relations community

ABSTRACTION: Let’s Add to What You Know

As a professional teacher, he/she is a facilitator of learning by ensuring that he/she provides a favorable
environment for learning. He/she acts as a leader by initiating and participating in community activities
for the benefit of community members and the community as a whole. As a community leader he/she
deals with other professionals and community officials harmoniously and professionally. Because he/she
wants to work with the community, he/she keeps people informed of developments in school. He/she
does not take advantage of his/her position as a professional teacher to proselyte. Neither does he/she
criticize community customs and traditions. Instead, he/she exerts effort to understand them with a
sympathetic attitude. Above all, to be a credible community leader, he/she earns the respect of
community by behaving with dignity at all times and so will not engage in vices such as gambling,
smoking, drunkenness, and illicit relations.

SYNAPSE STRENGTHENERS
1. Schools have School Report Cards as a means by which professional teachers keep communities
informed of school development. Research for a sample of a School Report Card and share in class.

2. Every school has a School Governing Council What is this Council about? How different is this from the
Parents and Teachers Association? Share your answers in class.

C. The Teacher and the Parents

INTRODUCTION

Parents are secondary stakeholders while their children (learners) are primary stakeholders. How
should teachers relate with parents is the concern of this third part of Lesson 2.

ACTIVITY: Let’s Do These

1. Read Article IX of the Code of Ethics.
ARTICLE IX – 9
THE TEACHER AND PARENTS

There should be a very good partnership or relationship with the parents in order for them to be a help in
the education of their children.
Parents are one of our stakeholders. They are our partners to be able to develop our students which is
their children holistically.
That’s why, it’s important that there is really partnership between parents and teachers. We really need
to do everything in order for us to have a very good relationship with them. Not necessarily close, but
make sure that there is respect between you, as a teacher and the parent.

Section 1. A teacher shall establish and maintain cordial relations with parents and shall conduct himself
to merit their confidence and respect.

How are you going to gain their respect and confidence with regard to their children education? What are
you going to do?
 Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
There are different ways in order for us to gain the confidence and respect of the parents. How will you
deal and communicate with the parents for you to be able to gain their confidence and respect towards
you as a teacher?
 Respect their opinions, their suggestions, their complains.
 As a teacher you have to be patient in listening to the parents because it’s unethical and improper
if you will answer back to the parents. You can answer back but make sure that there is respect to
them. Be tactful to them.
 Accept their complains and explain well in a way that they are not being offended and
disrespected.
 Do not answer back parents with inappropriate words. Make sure that you are sensitive to all the
words that you utter and say to them.
 Say “po” and “opo” whatever age. If you are really professional, whether the parent is a labandera,
lawyer, dishwasher, attorney, engineer or whatsoever. You have to be fair in treating them and
give the respect that they deserve because everyone needs to be respected.
 If you respect them, they will give it back to you in return.
 Respect their child, so that parents will also respect you as a teacher of their children.
 Indeed, the demand of the society is really high. They expect too much from the teachers because
we are molding individuals that why we have to live as an example. We have to walk the talk.
 It is a must that we have a good relationship with the parents but not too close.

Section 2. A teacher shall inform parents, through proper authorities, of the progress or deficiencies of
learners under him, exercising utmost candor and tact in pointing out learners' deficiencies and in
seeking parent's cooperation for the proper guidance and improvement of learners.
Section 2 is about the reports that you are doing with regards to the proficiency of the learners. We are
not only calling parents because of their sons/daughter deficiency. We also call them for their
sons/daughter achievements or rewards and specially to update them on the progress of their children.
We call parents in all the things that we need to communicate with them because they are our
stakeholders. It is a must that they know what’s happening not only to their children but also the school
of their children. They have to be informed to everything that is related to their children. Don’t only call
them at the beginning and at the end of the school year. You have to call them as much as you can in order
for us to avoid problems toward their children. You can chat them or text them, ask them about their
children so that you can be updated about your student. Remember, teacher is considered as the second
parents. Find time to communicate with the parents so you can build a harmonious relationship with the
parents.

Section 3. A teacher shall hear parent's complaints with sympathy and understanding and shall
discourage unfair criticism.

When parents are complaining, be sure that there is still respect. Try to understand them, try to put
yourself in their shoes so that it will be easy for you to know where they are coming from. You can correct
them but make sure that the way you explain to them is not disrespecting and inappropriate. You have
you choose your words in dealing with them. Let them talk, listen to their side. Listening to them first is a
must and when they are done talking, you can start explaining.

You have to make sure that whatever complain it is, you are calm. Don’t be angry, you have to stay calm in
dealing with the parents. Yes, we are only human, but since we have the profession since we have the
title. We need to preserve it.

Having a good relationship with parents will also benefit the school. The school will be given the
opportunity to be market by the parents with other parents. The parents will be the one to promote the
school in a way that your school has teachers who respect parents. And the school must also keep these
teachers because they are the treasure of the school.

ABSTRACTIONS: Let’s Add to what You Know

Teacher needs to connect with parents, his/ger partners in the education of the learner. For the
partnership to flourish, teacher shall maintain cordial relations with parents. This relationship remains
cordial if a teacher is sincere and tactful in reporting child’s progress.

SYNAPSE STRENGTHENERS
1. Research on "helicopter" parents. What is meant by "helicopter" parents? How should you relate to
them?

2. Read Chapter 2 of Substitute and Special Parental Authority of the Family Code of The Philippines in
Appendix M. What does special parental authority imply?