The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: A Position Statement of The National Association for the Education of Young Children Guidelines for Responsible Behavior in Early Childhood Education naeyc

The Code of Ethical Conduct Offers guidelines for responsible behavior Sets forth a common basis for resolving the principal ethical dilemmas encountered in early education & care From the Preamble to the Code naeyc

The Code of Ethical Conduct Primary focus: daily practice with children & their families Revised periodically—current version approved April 2005 Recent Additions: Supplement for EC Adult Educators (Joint statement developed with NAECTE & ACCESS) and Supplement for EC Program Admini-strators naeyc

So,What Are Ethics Anyway? naeyc

To answer that question, we have to begin by looking at: Values Morality Professional Core Values Ethics Professional Ethics Ethical Responsi-bilities & Dilemmas naeyc

VALUES What Do You Value?

VALUES Values are things that an individual believes to be intrinsically worthwhile or desirable, that are prized for themselves (e.g., truth, beauty, honesty justice, respect for people and for the environment). naeyc

MORALITY Morality involves peoples' views of what is good, right, or proper; their beliefs about their obligations; and their ideas about how they should behave. Morality concerns duties and obligations to one another and is characterized by words such as right, ought, just and fair. Morality Peoples’ views of what is good, right, & proper; their beliefs about their obligations; and their ideas about how they should behave naeyc

ETHICS Ethics is the study of right and wrong, duties and obligations. Ethics involves critical reflection on morality, including the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships. Ethics The study of right and wrong, or duty and obligation, that involves critical reflection on morality and the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships. naeyc

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS The moral commitments of a profession that: involve moral reflection that extends and enhances the personal morality practitioners bring to their work, concern actions of right and wrong in the workplace, and help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they encounter in their work.  Professional Ethics The moral commitments of a profession that involve moral reflection that extends and enhances the personal morality practitioners bring to their work, that concern actions of right and wrong in the workplace, and that help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they encounter in their work. naeyc

Ethical Responsibilities & Ethical Dilemmas --clear-cut, spelled out Ethical Dilemma --conflicting professional values & responsibilities Ethical Responsibilities Behaviors that one must or must not enact. Ethical responsibilities are clear-cut and are spelled out in the Code of Ethical Conduct (e.g., never share confidential info about a child or family…).  Ethical Dilemma A moral conflict that involves determining appropriate conduct when an individual faces conflicting professional values & responsibilities. naeyc

What Does a Code of Ethics Do? Creates a profession’s sense of identity Identifies the issues the profession cares about and wants new members to care about Communicates with those outside the profession what they can expect from its members Code of Ethics Defines the core values of the field & gives guidance for what prof’als should do in situations in which they encounter conflicting obligations or responsibilities in their work. naeyc

HISTORY OF THE CODE Initially prepared under the auspices of the Ethics Commission of NAEYC, which became the Ethics Panel Its development was a 5-year process, involving NAEYC membership Draft Code approved by NAEYC Governing Board July 1989 naeyc

HISTORY OF THE CODE (cont.) 1st set of revisions adopted 1992 2nd set of revisions approved by Board November 1997 Code is reviewed for revision periodically (every 5 years) naeyc

The Code… The goal of NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct is to inform, not prescribe, answers in tough decisions that teachers and other early childhood professionals must make as they work with children and families. The strategy inherent in the code is to promote the application of core values, ideals, and principles to guide decisionmaking about ethical issues. S. Feeney & N. Freeman, 1999. Ethics and The Early Childhood Educator: Using the NAEYC Code. naeyc

THE CODE of ETHICAL CONDUCT Core values Conceptual framework Ideals—reflect the aspirations of practitioners Principles—intended to guide conduct and assist practitioners in resolving ethical dilemmas Values Qualities or principles that individuals believe to be desirable or worthwhile & that they prize for themselves, for others, & for the world in which they live. Core Values Commitments held by a prof’ion that are consciously & knowingly embraced by its practitioners because they make a contribution to society. Is a difference btwn personal values & core values of a profession. Ideals = exemplary practice naeyc

Features of the Code Ideals & principles direct practitioners to those questions that, when answered, provide basis for conscientious decisionmaking Many situations with ethical dimensions will require practitioner to combine guidance of the Code with sound professional judgment naeyc

Sections of the Code Section I: Ethical responsibilities to children Section II: Ethical responsibilities to families Section III: Ethical responsibilities to colleagues (coworkers, employers, employees) Section IV: Ethical responsibilities to community and society Statement of Commitment naeyc

What do we do? ID Problem ↓ No: Seek solution Involves ethics? Yes (issues of right, wrong…) Responsibility: Do what is right Dilemma or responsibility? ↓ Dilemma: You have a choice… Yes: Solve it! Can it be solved with ethical finesse? ↓ No… naeyc

What do we do? Look for guidance in Code, get more info… ↓ Yes: Seek legal advice! Legal dimension? No… Decide on a course of action ↓ Issue resolved! naeyc

So, How Can the Code Be Used in Real-Life Situations naeyc

Why Is the Existence of the Code Important to ECE? naeyc