You are on page 1of 3

Terrilyn Ladd EDAS 5810- Personal Code of Ethics

Some of the hardest decisions any instructional leader will make are those decisions that are between two rights. The true test of the instructional leaders ethics has to do with choosing the path that is considered the best option between two right answers. When making those tough decisions, the ethical instructional leader considers four paradigms. Those paradigms are: the ethic of justice, the ethic of critique, the justice of care, and the ethic of the profession (Shapiro, J. P. and Stefkovich, J. A., p. 6). Each instructional leader, especially those instructional leaders that have not succumbed to the sometimes tainted influence of politics, needs to determine those non-negotiable principles that he/she will follow. Related to the paradigms, these principles should serve as a personal statement of who you are as a professional and ethical guide as to how he/she will conduct his/her personal life. The following principles are considered as my personal code of ethics. Ethic of Critique: I will be fair. When given a chance to advocate for children/students in schools located in the lower SES areas, I will. I believe that equal does not always mean the same thing as equity. It is a shame (to me) that some schools have better or more resources than other schools because of where the school is located and due to the type of students the school serves. I would work toward establishing some policy that would consider making funds that go to the schools more equitable.

Ethic of Justice: I will be a law abiding citizen. Laws, rules and policies were not necessarily meant to be broken. They were actually put in place for a reason. Rules and laws in particular were

Terrilyn Ladd EDAS 5810- Personal Code of Ethics

enacted to protect the common citizen, the stakeholder, and the student. I will neither deny nor prohibit the rights of students to pursue their education. Neither will I consent to the unethical attempts at others to deny rights to students. Some acts are punishable by law and I believe that we all must be accountable for our actions, especially when it comes to the law.

Ethic of Care: I do and will care always. I will care about both the students and those that serve the students (teachers). The individual needs of the students and teachers will mean something to me. Issues and concerns of teachers have to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Ethic of Profession:

I will remain professional at all times. I will conduct myself in such a way that I would not be ashamed of my behavior in a public or private setting. I will be able to live with myself and willing to live with the consequences of my decisions. I will be the agent of change and the first person that I will influence to change is me. I will collaborate with the stakeholders in making decisions and seeking the greater good for the students I will serve.

Terrilyn Ladd EDAS 5810- Personal Code of Ethics

References Shapiro, J. P. and Stefkovich, J. A. (2011). Ethical leadership and decision making in education: Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. New York, NY: Routledge.

You might also like