Running Head: ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES Dunphy 1

The Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct for the

Education Profession in Florida Connect/Reflect Task

Amanda Dunphy

University of South Florida

Level III Internship

October 17, 2017

ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES Dunphy 2

The Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession

in Florida represent the guidelines of what professional educators can and should expect while

working with students in their school community. This Code of Ethics serves as a reminder to

educators that there are specific obligations and expectations associated with the profession, of

being an educator and mentor for children. Teachers are traditionally held to a high moral

standard in a community, this is because as an educator, you hold a great position of trust. We

look to teachers to educate and prepare the children of our society for their adult lives and entrust

the custody of our children, daily, with their teacher. Addressed in the Code of Ethics, an

educator must value the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to

excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurturing of democratic citizenship. Under this

code, the educators primary professional concern will always be the student and the development

of the students potential.

There have been countless occasions throughout history, where an educator has been

punished for misconduct toward students in our society. As I prepare to start a full-term

internship, prior to becoming a teacher next year, I have been focusing on each of my students

growth within in the classroom and ensuring that every guideline in the Code of Ethics is in

enforced. While I have been practicing this Code of Ethics throughout my interning experience,

I would like to focus on how I have valued my students privacy and never exploited information

discussed, covered, and/or assessed by my collaborative teacher, CT, and I. While it comes to a

students privacy, one must merit this childs life and anything shared between the educator and

student. I have kept my students names, teacher, and school anonymous throughout lesson

planning and case studies, as I have always referred to pseudonyms and/or initials.
ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES Dunphy 3

If an educator was to disclose a students name, they would not only be breaking the Code of

Ethics, but sharing personal information with the public, that was originally shared in

confidence.

Another way I have valued the Code of Ethics, regarding a childs privacy in my

classroom, is by blurring their faces in both videos and images. Once a picture is posted, it is

close to impossible to delete it from our fast-growing internet based world. You are sharing

visuals with the public that reveal who your students are and how they look. This is not only

dangerous for their well-being, but also shows who you are working with, discussing, and/or

teaching. The following is a YouTube link that demonstrates being an ethical educator-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSF8wDPUAS0.

The third example that I would like to touch on, involving how I value the Code of Ethics

as an educator, involves hiding student names while showing student work/artifacts. Reflecting
ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES Dunphy 4

on lessons and their effectiveness in your classroom is vital as an educator, however, this

involves showing student work and relating this to the content being instructed.

Despite having to share with your colleagues and other individuals what your students are doing

and whether your accommodations are effective, you still must remember your vow to protect

the privacy of your students. One cannot show their name on projects, homework, classwork,

etc. This would violate our code as educators and result in punishment.

Overall, The Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education

Profession in Florida is a set of guidelines/rules that we, as teachers, must follow. This is not a

question, but a promise to do so when one agrees to advocate for young children. We have

promised to help them, regardless of any situation/dilemma we run into and make sure they are

growing academically, mentally, morally, and emotionally while in our classroom. As our sixth
ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES Dunphy 5

FEAP, Florida Educator Accomplished Practice, states, teachers are held to a high moral

standard in a community and the effective teacher adheres to this Code of Ethics while ensuring

their students are fulfilling their expectations. While I continue to learn new ways to

accommodate my students, assess their knowledge, and so forth, I plan to follow The Code of

Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and

become the best teacher I possibly can be!