Lesson 4
Roles of Teachers as Intellectuals
in the Society and Observance of
Professional Ethics(3 Hours).
The learning outcomes for this
lesson
Society’s expectation of teachers’ behavior living in
a community, exercising profession and interaction
with fellow teachers is quite simple – live a morally
upright life. Like ministers who are expected to
practice what they preach, teachers are expected to
practice what they teach. Nobility and modesty are
words that define teaching profession which directly
define the expectation of how a teacher would
behave within society.
At the end of the lesson, you
will be able to
1. Know the roles of teachers in the
society
2. Understand the Code of Ethics for
Teachers
3. Develop a balanced personality based
on the code of ethics and needs
of
Lesson Expectations
• Please list down five things that you expect to
learn from this lesson based on the learning
outcomes listed above.
_______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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What the lesson is all about
• Introduction
Unsolicited respect is a privilege given to
teachers wherever they go. The profession
carries with it the nobility and importance
second to none. Kings and emperors once were
at the mercy of teachers, the future of their
kingdom dependent of what they are able to
learn from their educators, notwithstanding the
inclusion of our present leaders today.
• As we have learned from previous lessons, the
belief and behavior of the teacher is
sometimes unconsciously inherited by the
students, with this premise it is very
imperative that teachers, as role models,
should have ethical standards so as not to
corrupt the minds of not only the students but
also the community.
Ethical Standards
• Different standards are set in different
countries all around the world for the teaching
profession. These standards are all based on
acceptable social norms and preferences.
There are slight differences based on customs
and laws for each country that are defined by
the social needs, acceptability and values.
Some of these differences are influenced by
religion and culture.
Ethical Double Standards
Teachers like other people are human
beings. The probability to make mistake is
likely the same with people in a certain
community. As it have been witnessed in all
aspects of profession and vocation from all
around the world, from the past to the
present, the term “do what I tell you to do but
do not do what I do” is evident.
• To further implore on the subject, a
doctor who smokes cigarette would
advise his patient to stop smoking
because it is hazardous to health. A
minister who drinks alcohol would
preach about the hazards and
consequences of indulging with the vice.
• A teacher who tells his students that
gambling is not good even though he
would spend the night playing cards with
his fellow teachers. Each of these would
be justified by a certain principle or
ideology so that the deed would be
justified.
• As for the doctor, he would tell his patient
that the patient’s health is more important
than his. For the minister, it would be okay to
get drunk as long as he does his
responsibilities. And for the teacher, it would
be his right to do whatever he wants in a
democratic society as long as he does his job.
Professional Ethics for Teachers
• Article 11 of Republic Act 7836 (Philippine
Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994) and
PD 223 which was amended, adoption of
which was undertaken by the Board of
Professional Teachers to uphold the integrity
and professionalism of the teachers practicing
their profession in the country.
• This code is the basis of decisions on the
creation of policies and guideline to every
manner of disposition of the profession by
teachers throughout the country. It controls
every aspect of the teaching profession in
every school, owned by the government and
private institutions with inclusion to non-
formal schools where there is a practice of the
teaching profession.
• The Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers
consists of 13 articles defining the way of life
expected from a professional teacher. It also
includes the disciplinary actions given to
erring professionals. (Please refer to a copy of
Professional Ethics for Teachers.)