Unit 3

Professional Ethics and

Teacher Relationships
Objective 1:
Analyze the concept of
professionalism, professional
ethics and professional teacher
Define the Following:
1. Teaching
2. Indoctrination
3. Professionalism
4. Professional
5. Profession
• Teaching “teaching is undertaking
certain ethical tasks or activities the
intention of which is to induce learning
or the transmission of knowledge which
usually results in learning.
• Indoctrination is influencing

individuals to believe in facts based

ones feelings or opinions. Eg. Using one

method to teach students. There are

other methods to incorporate…also

insisting that one one’s religious belief

is the true one.

• Professionalism is the character, spirit and methods that distinguish a

profession from an amateur.

A profession is deemed as a vocation

requiring specialized training in a field

of learning.
 Development of a Profession
A job/occupation becomes a profession by passing through four (4)
distinct stages:

• The occupation must have become a full time job.

• A training system must be established.

• A professional association have been formed.

• A Code of Ethics (COE) has evolved.

 Characteristics of a Profession
A profession is distinguished by certain characteristics including:
a) Mastery of a particular intellectual skill, acquired by training and education;
b) Acceptance of duties to society as a whole in addition to duties to the
Employer or Client;
c) an outlook which is essentially objective; and
d) a high standard in the conduct and performance of personal service.

• Source - https://clgm.net/files/pdf/Special%20Edition%20-%
20Characteristics%20of%20a%20Profession.pdf
 Who is a Professional?

•A professional is a member of a profession.

•A professional is one who abides by the ethical code of his/her

profession (his or her behavior is controlled by the ethical code given
by his/her professional body).

•As a professional, the client trusts him to behave in a special way and
so older professionals ensure this by having an ethical code of long
standing, your commitment.
• The knowledge and skills held by professionals are not usually available to non-
professionals.

• Professionals experience lengthy period of training prior to professional practice.

• Professionals display a high degree of autonomy. They are responsible for the
service they provide and should promote the profession through quality service.

• Professional engage in continuous professional development to optimize their level

of competency on the job.
 Past Paper Question
State FOUR characteristics of a profession. Discuss the
extent to which EACH characteristic is evident in the
teaching profession. – 20 marks (Dec 2011)
Professional Ethics

Professional ethics are principles that govern the

behaviour of a person or group in a business environment.
Like values, professional ethics provide rules on how a
person should act towards other people and institutions in
such an environment.
Examples of universal ethical principles includes:
• honesty

• trustworthiness

• loyalty

• respect for others

• adherence to the law
• doing good and avoiding harm to others
• accountability.
 IS TEACHING A PROFESSION?
• Contemporary belief is divided to justify
whether or not teaching is a profession.

• Teachinghas been labeled as a semi-

profession, an emerging profession, an
uncertain profession, an endangered
profession and a marginal profession.
 Past Paper Questions
1. There is a continuous debate regarding teaching as a profession. As
an Emerging Professional present ONE argument supporting teaching
as a profession. – 2 marks
2. Present ONE argument which indicates that teaching is not a
profession. – 2 marks
(Dec 2013)
3. Discuss FOUR points to either support or refute the claim teaching
can be classified as a profession. – 20 marks
(Dec 2012)
 IS TEACHING A PROFESSION
Arguments for
• It is a way of earning a living, a field of
economic and offers a service.
• It involves the acquisition of a large body
of general and specific knowledge along
with specialized professional education.
• It caters to a specific type of client.
• It has a basic entry requirement which
demands successful completion of a
secondary level course of study.
Arguments for
• Training focus on a length period of theory and
field-based training above high school level.
• It has a professional body which controls the
behaviour of its members –JTA
• It has a Code of Ethics to give guidance to its
members in their professional behaviour.
• A Code of Regulation (COR) which is legally
binding on all members.
 TEACHING IS NOT A PROFESSION
Arguments Against
• It lacks prestige and esteem…low
salary, large number of women, lack of
material
• It lacks autonomy…., the professional
body should have the power the right
to there is no autonomy, entry
requirements are set by the government
and not by the professional body.
• Professional freedom is
lacking..conform to the syllabus
sometimes designed by non-
professionals.
Arguments Against
• The professional body lacks authority
to suspend or remove offending
members from the profession, unlike
the traditional professions
• The Code of Regulations (COR) was
drafted by the MOE and not by the JTA.
• The Code of Ethics (COE) carries little
weight because it is often ignored by
the members….cannot sanction or
remove offending members.
• Used as a stepping-stone
Factors that shape the teacher as person and as professional
• Factors that shape the teacher as person: https://balutsav.org/the-teacher-as-a-person/
• Factors that shape the teacher as professional: https://
knepublishing.com/index.php/Kne-Social/article/view/4630/9330
 Past Paper Questions
1. Explain the term ‘Professional Ethics’. -2 marks (Dec 2014)
2. Mr Warrick explained to teachers in training that “the teaching
profession is a highly public profession”. Explain ONE implication
of this statement in light of teacher professionalism.- 2marks (Dec
2019)
3. State THREE factors that may affect teachers’ relationships and
professionalism. – 3 marks (Jan 2022)