Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in Education in Florida

Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct in Education in Florida

The provision of education in Florida is focused primarily on the prerequisite demands of high quality education, from which the students -- of all ages, genders and social categories -- gain and which they can utilize as a source of improved lives.

A primary element which is considered as the integrant party of the high quality of the educational system is represented by the quality of the teachers, namely their own preparation and level of expertise in teaching their subject. Aside from this however, a more salient component of a high quality educational profession -- in Florida, but also in other parts of the globe -- is represented by the ethical conduct.

At the specific level of Florida, the expectations and regulations to which parties in the education system are to obey to are included in the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida. According to this, the teachers will create equal opportunities to education for all students and their primary scope would be that of ensuring the development of the students. In all of their actions, the teachers will strive to gain and preserve the respect of all parties with which they interact, directly or indirectly. In the very words of the Florida Department of Education:

"1. The educator values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

2. The educator's primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student's potential. The educator will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

3. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of one's colleagues, of students, of parents, and of other members of the community, the educator strives to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct" (Florida Department of Education).

The principles to ethical behavior in the educational system in Florida are rather complex and they include references to a wide array of situations. Some of the more notable of these entries in the principles to ethical conduct include the following:

The continuous maintenance of honesty

The complete elimination of bias based on race, gender, religion, political convictions, nationality as well as any other potentially discriminative criteria

The complete elimination of harassment or discrimination

The issuing of all information pertinent in the professional setting, of only objective and true information, with the complete elimination of untrue and malicious statements

The truthful and complete representation of one's professional qualifications

The immediate report to the authorities of any situations in which the parties in the system might have been hurt or might have conducted themselves in a wrongful manner

The offering of complete collaboration and support in any investigation of the educational regulatory institutions, groups, committees and so on (Florida Department of Education).

All in all, the principles of conduct within the educational profession in Florida are based on the ethical and integer behavior. In other words, the underlying concept at the basis of the principles is that of integrity. But what has yet to be mentioned that integrity is not only limited to this code of conduct, but it is in fact a way of life, a model of operation within the Florida educational system. Emphasis is at all times placed on integrity and the pursuit of this life style goes beyond the actual code of conduct.

"The safety of Florida's students is of the utmost importance, and adherence to the professional code of conduct is only one of several essential components through which we ensure the care of students, the integrity of the profession and the respect of the community. In addition to the harm it may cause to our students, educator misconduct disgraces the community and denigrates the profession" (Lambeth).

These stipulations, as well as the rest of them which are integrated in the documents as provided by the Florida Department of Education are compulsory to all players in the educational system. Failure to comply with them would result in penalties, including fines, or even the suspension of the quality of educator or student.