The Teacher and the

Community: Teacher's
Ethical and
Professional Behavior
Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Chapter, you should be able to:

❖ elaborate on community's expectations from
teachers and on teachers' expectation from
communities
❖ describe teacher's ethical and professional
behavior in the community by giving concrete
examples
Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers
Article III

The 8 Sections of Article III of the Code of Ethics refers to

the community within the school and the community
outside the school.
 Teacher as Facilitator of Learning

Section 1 states that the teacher is a facilitator of learning and the

development of the youth … therefore shall render the best service by
providing an environment conducive for such learning and growth.

▪ Facilitator comes from the word “facilitate” which means to make

something easier.
▪ To facilitate learning, a conducive learning environment is necessary.
▪ The teacher who believes that “Every child deserves a champion, an
adult who will never give up on them, who understand the power of
connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be like
Teacher Rita Pierson in TED Talk is a facilitator of learning.
 Teacher Leadership and Initiative for
Community Participation

Section 2 refers to the “leadership and initiative of the professional

teacher to participate in community movements to moral, social,
economic and civic betterment of the community.”

▪ Schools are at the heart of communities and you as a professional

teachers are expected to be be-in-the-world and to be-in-the-world-
with-others and for others (Heidegger).
✓ The professional teacher ought to take the initiative to offer your
help for the improvement of the community
 Teacher Leadership and Initiative for
Community Participation

Section 6. “Every teacher is an intellectual leader in the community,

especially in the barangay and shall welcome the opportunity to
provide such leadership when needed, to extend counseling services,
as appropriate, and to be actively involved in matters affecting the
welfare of people.”

▪ Teachers, as they participate in community affairs prove that they

“are the most responsible and most important members of society
because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth.”
 Professional Teacher with Honor and
Dignity

Section 3 states: “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, drunkenness, and other excesses much less illicit
relations.”

▪ The quotation states “The influence of a good teacher can never be

erased” but the influence of a dishonorable teacher is as lasting.”
 Teacher’s Attitude Toward Local Customs
and Traditions

Section 4 expects “every teacher to live for and with 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.”

▪ The professional teacher is neither ethnocentric nor xenocentric.

▪ Fortunate and happy is the community that has teachers who live
with them, exert effort to understand their local customs and
traditions and consequently appreciate the same.
 The Professional Teacher and Information
Update

Section 5 states that the teacher “shall help the school inform the
community about the school’s work, accomplishments, needs and
problems.”

▪ Community here refers to internal as well as external stakeholders.

✓ The school is there for the community and so the community has the
right to be informed about its activities, accomplishments, needs and
problems.
 The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA)

▪ Some private schools call it Home School Association/ Family

Advisory Council
✓ It is an association of teachers and parents with children who are
enrolled in a school.
✓ It is a forum for discussions on school problems and how they can
be solved.
 The School Governing Council (SGC)

▪ A SGC as a policy-making body has the school head as Chief

Executive Officer, Manager and Chief Operations Officer.
✓ It determines general policies on student welfare, discipline, well-
being
✓ Concerned with the development, monitoring and evaluation of the
School Improvement Plan (SIP), and reporting of the progress of the
SIP implementation to the Schools Division Superintendent and the
community
 The Professional Teacher and Government
Officials and Other Professionals

Section 7 states: “Every teacher shall maintain harmonious and

pleasant personal and official relations with other professionals,
with government officials and with the people individually or
collectively.”

▪ Desiderata gives this advice: “As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and
clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too
have their story,”
 The Professional Teacher Does not Use
Position to Proselyte

Section 8 says: “A teacher possesses freedom to attend church and

worship as appropriate, but shall not use his position and influence
to proselyte others.”

▪ Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the 1987 Philippine

Constitution. “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise
and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without
discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed” (Article II,
Section 6).
REFERENCES

❖The Teacher and the Community, School Culture and

Organizational Leadership by Prieto, Arcangel and Corpuz

❖ https://etico.iiep.unesco.org/sites/default/files/2019-
02/philippines_code_of_ethics_fo_professional_teachers.pdf