Field Components Values Virtues and Principles

Abstract

As a leader, morals, philosophies and main beliefs are an important aspect that facilitates what is adhered to by followers and subordinates. This is all the more significant for leaders within the school environment who have a major impact on students. This paper conducted an interview of three school administrators including the school principal and two assistant principals. Results from the interviews indicated that all administrators considered the term “ethics” to take into account being aligned to and compliant with the law. However, they also insisted that they lean on to their personal values especially when the law does not seem right. The interview results also indicate that integrity and honesty are vital aspects for an ethical individual. But most of all, the results showed that the administrators considered an ethical person to be one that sticks to moral values and standards regardless of the circumstances at hand. In my opinion, I believe that values, morals and beliefs are pivotal for any leader. I believe that school leaders ought to embrace and epitomize moral values and standards at all times owing to their major impact to students.

Introduction

Morals, philosophies and main beliefs are an essential societal aspect. It is imperative to note that the mutual morals, philosophies and main beliefs shared across the societal order and adhered to are deemed to be the basic foundations of societies. Leaders play a fundamental role in the formation of communities that are not only thriving but also effective. On an everyday basis, leaders partake in decision making that substantially affect the lives of their subordinates and followers. Important leaders in the present day society are educational leaders who largely influence the livelihoods of students. Significantly, leaders ought to make decision that prompt constructive change in the societal order, and especially with respect to education. Simply being in a comfort zone with the existing state of affairs is not adequate. Taking this into consideration, it is perceptible why the values held and adhered to by a leader are pivotal. The ethical context of leadership within an educational setting has an impact on the followers, which is indicative of the significantly more influence of the leader. As a result, the system of values, morals and beliefs forwarded by the leaders within the school setting should mirror the morals and philosophies of all interested parties.

Summary of Administrator Goins, Robinson, and Hobson Interviews

For this reflective paper, I interviewed three administrators within the school setting. Administrator 1 is Mr. Goins who takes the leadership and administrative role of principal for the school. Administrator 2 is Ms. Robinson who takes the role of assistant principal of the school. Administrator 3 is Paul Hobson who is the assistant principal and also the athletic director within the school.

For the interview, each of the interviewees were asked a similar set of five questions regarding ethical standpoints. The interview questions comprise of the following:

1. What does the term “ethics” mean to you as a practicing school leader?

2. What are a few of your absolute ethics that cannot and will not be compromised under any circumstance?

3. What is an ethical person in your opinion?

4. What is the most challenging ethic for a current school leader? Why?

5. What ethical considerations must be addressed in your role in the school/district organization?

These open ended questions included in the interview gave the interviewees the chance to provide extensive responses. From my point of view, all of the responses provided were sincere and straight to the point. In addition, key themes from similar responses were perceived.

Subsequent to analyzing interview notes, it is perceptible that all of the three administrators considered the term “ethics” to take into account being aligned to and compliant with the law. Mr. Goins was keen to point out that values and the law are not always in tandem and he is inclined to follow his values when he deems the law to be incorrect. He asserted that “the two and they both don’t always align. I often lean to the side of values when I don’t believe the law is correct.” In the same manner, Ms. Robinson emphasized that ethics incessantly evolves and have dissimilar meanings to dissimilar individuals. I would have to be in agreement with the statements of the three practicing school leaders who are expected to make decisions on an everyday basis based on their ethical values and at the same time adhere to the law. Such actions are means to influence their followers in a constructive manner.

The second interview question for each of the three administrators was their individual absolute ethics that cannot and will not be compromised under any circumstance. I think that this question is imperative for the reason that as leaders, there are decisions and actions necessitated that may be in contradiction with someone’s fundamental values and beliefs. This determines the efficacy of a leader when he or she is able to stand firm regardless of such circumstances. One of the mutual aspects that was pointed out by Mr. Goins and Paul Hobson is integrity and honesty. Hobson insisted that “I will not tell untruths to a child.” Respect and equity are other aspects of equity that the administrators would not compromise. Ms. Robinson points out that she cannot stand “any staff member that is disrespectful to kids and anyone who purposefully try to fail students.”

The administrators were also questioned who an ethical person is from their individual opinion and perspective. The most common response from the interviewees is that an ethical individual is one that does the right thing in the wrong circumstances and even when it is not the popular thing to do. In addition, Mr. Goins delineated that an ethical person encompasses being reflective and understanding the restrictions to one’s perspectives and always comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. I am especially in agreement with these perspectives for the reason that I consider an ethical person to be one that adheres to moral standards at all times irrespective of the circumstances that he or she is situated in.

Moreover, the interview also asked the participants what ethical considerations must be addressed in each of their individual role in the school/district organization. According to Mr. Goins, the school principal, the ethical considerations to be addressed encompasses when making a decision on whether to take the teachers’ side or the students’ side with respect to grades and self-confidence, issues concerning teachers and parents and also issues concerning teachers themselves. On the other hand, Ms. Robison who has a role of assistant principal within the school considered checks and balances to be the ethical considerations necessitating addressing and making certain that one individual is not permitted to signing off. In addition, the assistant principal insisted on reporting on twice a week or on a quarterly basis. Most of all, Mr. Hobson insisted that in his role as assistant principal in the school, “he is responsible for making sure that all students follow all of the promotional requirements.”

According to Mr. Goins, the most challenging ethic for a prevailing school leader includes comprehending the dissimilarity that exists between influence and power. He outlines that this is for the reason that, “I have more influence than one else but I don’t hold the power”. Ms. Robinson was questioned whether her opinion of ethics transformed over the years of services. Her response was that in her new role as assistant principal of the school, she perceives the interworking of aspects and has a comprehension of the manner in which things operate on a bigger scale. She goes on to assert that this is because “my interaction with parents has devastated changes, meeting families where they are.” Lastly, Mr. Hobson was asked about the ethical considerations that he faced on an everyday basis within the organization. He responds, “One ethical consideration I face daily as the Athletic Director and Head Basketball coach is preferential treatment of my .athletes in school.” He goes on to state that he tries his level best not to treat them better and hold them to greater academic standard, behavioral, and morale standards in compare to their non-athletics peers.

School / District Code of Ethics Document Review

In addition to conducting interviews of the three school administrators, I also obtained a number of important documents delineating the ethical values to be adhered to within the school setting including the student and parent handbook and also the staff handbook. Subsequent to conducting a comprehensive assessment of these documents, it is apparent that the school has a code of ethics that is well instituted and centered on mutual mission and vision of stakeholders that facilitate the adhering of ethical standards (Buttler College Prep, n.d). The mission statement of the school asserts that “Noble prepares low-income students with the scholarship, discipline, and honor necessary to succeed in college and lead exemplary lives, and serves as a catalyst for education reform in Chicago.” This statement echoes the prioritization of the student to experience success and impact their lives in a positive manner (Noble Network of Charter Schools, 2017).