Katlin Gibbons Professor Ron Sandland EDTE 519 – Section 1 January 31, 2013

 Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be raised in a family that was loving and nurturing. My parents were devoted to instilling good morals and values upon my siblings and myself. Two values that have greatly influenced me over the course of my personal and professional life are honesty and trust. I strive to continually be honest and trustworthy in all aspects of life and I surround myself with individuals that share these common beliefs. When faced with difficult personal decisions, I first and foremost stay true to myself; I believe autonomy is integral to a person of conviction. The influence of others with vested interest must never come between what is ethically right and what is easily dismissed.  Sport has been very influential throughout my life and has helped shape the person that I am today. I have played many sports at varying levels; regardless of the level, sport has taught me the importance of commitment, dedication, integrity and belief in others. When faced with a personal problem this prevailing foundation helps to guide and support me to an ethical, honest outcome.  I believe that my professional decision making process will parallel my personal framework. The paramount difference when making professional decisions will reflect who I am ultimately accountable to. As a teacher, it is my principle duty to abide by the standards and ethics set out by the profession. I will strive to reach an outcome that is consistent with my personal values and core beliefs while holding true to the standards of the teaching profession.

As a teacher I expect to encounter many difficult situations over my career. One could be easily overwhelmed in an ethical dilemma without an adequate guiding framework. From personal reflection while conducting this assignment I have determined my inner foundational values. Furthermore, I have developed a professional decision making model that will assist me in reaching an ethical and optimal outcome in every given situation. When faced with a challenging scenario, I can refer to my “10 Step Decision Making Model” to professionally guide me to a positive outcome that reflects the teaching code of ethics and standards put forth by the TRB and BCTF. Lastly, I can reflect upon the process and evolve both professionally and personally.

My personal values and beliefs align with the following three ethical principles: The Utilitarian Approach  The Utilitarian Approach parallels with my personal values and beliefs because I feel that all people need to be treated equally and I truly care for the well-being of others. The principle states, “Of any two actions, the most ethical one will produce the greatest balance of benefits or harms” The Virtue Approach  The Virtue Approach parallels with my personal values and beliefs because I have always invoked honesty and integrity when making decisions and pride myself in being a trustworthy person. The principle states, “What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our communities.” The Justice Approach  The Justice Approach parallels with my personal values and beliefs because I pride myself in treating others fairly and with respect. The principle states, “Treat people the same unless there are morally relevant differences between them.”

When faced with an ethical decision as an educator, I first and foremost need to maintain the standards of professional service and conduct towards my students, fellow colleagues and the professional union that governs me. Additionally, I need to abide by the 8 standards established by the British Columbia Teacher’s Council. When dealing with an ethical issue I will accept the standards and will act with honesty, integrity and autonomy.

 After developing my “10 Step Professional Decision Making Model”, I was able to reflect and recognize reconciliations of using this type of framework. As an educator, I may be faced with difficult decisions that are not easily resolved by using a model and making the most ethical choice may be a struggle.  For example, if a colleague shared a personal problem with me and asked to keep it between us, as an honest and trustworthy person I would hope to do so; however, if the problem contradicted one of the teaching standards and put students at risk I would have to make an ethical decision – do I report the problem? As an educator it is my duty to abide by the professional standards that govern me, I would have to report my colleague. The decision to do so would be difficult knowing that I would be breaking the trust of a colleague and a friend. Sometimes making the most ethical decision isn’t always the easiest decision.

Stop & Think (keep an open mind) Identify Problem (ethical issue) Investigate & Gather Facts Take time to reflect & weigh the risks Examine personal values (What is important? How does this make me feel) Review possible outcomes (how will this affect myself and others, does it align with my values and beliefs?) Consult with others (weigh the pros & cons) Execute the best decision possible (follow professional code of ethics) Act on the decision Reflect on the outcome (What was the outcome? How did it affect myself and others? Changes for next time)

The experience of creating a professional decision making model is beneficial to my future career as an educator. It will be a resource that I will refer to in challenging situations and will be a guide when making sound decisions. From personal reflection, I have discovered I am an autonomous person with integrity; I believe in equality among others and above all I value trust and honesty. The road to decision making is not always straight and you may not know what is around the corner; however, with a strong foundation of values, ethics, and principles to guide you, the path will seem less daunting.

 BC Ministry of Education: Current Standards.  BC Teachers’ Federation: Code of Ethics.  Ron Sandland. Ethical Decision Making Model. Powerpoint