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VALUES AND ETHICS IN EDUCATIONAL

Jedidiah Jireh M. Anciano LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT -EDLM 803

PHD-EDLM-TERM 2 Dr. Caridad Barrameda

The challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us left many organizations
perplexed, many of which are schools, specially small populated private institutions like ours. Some
took these challenges as obstacles to overcome and thrive while some took it as sign to permanently
cease operations. By God’s grace, our school belonged to the former.

Looking back, our institution were confronted with the following dilemmas: low enrollment
rate (over 50% reduction), financial stability at risk which resulted to cost cutting of salaries and
other vital expenses, little to non experience of the faculty and staff regarding alternative learning
modality, and needless to cite, threats against physical and mental health. During that time, the most
troubling dilemma for me were the low enrollment that resulted to financial instability. This was due
to the fact that most parents experienced closing of businesses, retrenchment from work, while some
had to move to their provinces for lower cost of living.

The school board and I responded with two things immediately. First, we answered the
question, “How much can we lower down our fees?” Second, “How many paying pupils do we need
to sustain our operation?” As a school head, I know that one of the pillars of a financially stable
school is to have income coming from the receivables each school year. But this time, it was not
about that. If I have to sum up the goal of our school for that year, I have to use the word “survival”.
We can only do that by putting aside any schemes for earning extra profit and focus on how we can
meet the needs of our parents by adjusting our education costs that will help them stay with us. At
this moment, I had to apply the Care Ethics for this decision. As defined in the dialogue and debate at
the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University (2021), care ethics is rooted in
relationships and in the need to listen and respond to individuals in their specific circumstances,
rather than merely following rules or calculating utility.

Three months before the school opening, we sent a survey link to our dear parents to know
their situations. Through that questionnaire, we understood what each family was going through the
pandemic and their plans for the educational needs of their children. The school administration and I
really took time to read, listen, and analyse the patterns of their problems. After a month, the school
board decided to cut 20% off from all tuition and miscellaneous fees to be able to secure the 56

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 FLA 1
VALUES AND ETHICS IN EDUCATIONAL

Jedidiah Jireh M. Anciano LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT -EDLM 803

PHD-EDLM-TERM 2 Dr. Caridad Barrameda

paying learners to sustain the school operations with even just reaching a break-even point. The total
of the discounted receivable payments were enough to settle salaries, dues, and other expenses.

Emmanuel Kant’s principle of humanity, as mentioned by Atwell (1986), dictates, “Act in

such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never
merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.” School leaders should act
compassionately in times of great need. After all, schools exist to serve the needs of our learners and
parents. That is the primary reason for operating an educational institution. If we did not act
compassionately and focused on financial security, we would have not made it.

Also this scenario reminded me of Mark 9:35 which says, “Anyone who wants to be first
must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Leadership in times of prosperity and power is totally
different than leadership in crisis. Good leadership is about helping and encouraging people so they
remain steady and able to grow in times of challenges. When followers are struggling for life and
hope, leaders need to give, not take.

This decision we made serves as guide for all the administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and
learners towards the values the school stand for. Since our school is a Christian school, it exists to
honor God and extend to others His love and wonderful plan purpose for them. This can only be
done if we will serve with a heart of compassion and genuine care for our constituents without
compromising the standards of truth and order.

Sources:
Atwell, J.E. (1986). The principle of humanity. In: Ends and Principles in Kant’s Moral Thought.
Nijhoff International Philosophy Series, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/
10.1007/978-94-009-4345-2_6

Markkula Center for Applied Ethics (2021). A framework for ethical decision making.
Retrieved from: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/a-framework-for-ethical-decision-
making/

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