DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
MODULE 7: THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL
TEACHERS: RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS
“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not to
join their chaos.” – L.R. Knost
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
• explain how professional teachers should relate to the learners, the teaching
community, and higher authorities.
THE TEACHER AND THE LEARNERS
The learners are our primary internal stakeholders. They have no choice over the kind
of teacher given to them. Fortunate are the learners who are in classes with professional caring
teachers. Unfortunate are those whose teachers are a contrast to the caring and compassionate
teachers.
ACTIVITY: Let’s Do This
How do you want your teacher to be? What are your wishes for your Teacher?
ARTICLE VIII – THE TEACHER AND THE LEARNERS
Section 1. A teacher has a right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotions
of learners in the subject or grades he handles, such determination shall be in accordance with
generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurement. In case of any complaint,
teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, of serving due process.
Section 2. A teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and
foremost concerns, and shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them.
Section 3. Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced nor discriminated against by the
learner.
Section 4. A teacher shall not accept favors or gifts from learners, their parents or others in
their behalf in exchange for requested concessions, especially if undeserved.
Section 5. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials
other what is authorized for such service.
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
Section 6. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of
academic performance.
Section 7. In a situation where mutual attraction and subsequent love develop between
teacher and learner, the teacher shall exercise utmost professional discretion to avoid scandal,
gossip and preferential treatment of the learner.
Section 8. A teacher shall not inflict corporal punishment on offending learners nor make
deductions from their scholastic ratings as a punishment for acts which are clearly not
manifestation of poor scholarship.
Section 9. A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of
learners are adequate, and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving learner’s
problems and difficulties.
ANALYSIS: Let’s Analyze
In the “Wishes for My Teacher” that were read, which were most common?
ABSTRACTION: Let’s Add to What You Know
Perhaps the teacher’s traits that are wished by most can be summed up in the words
“caring,” “compassionate,” and “fair.” Article VIII, The Teacher, and the Learner of the Code of
Ethics describes the professional teacher to be such. Fair because he/she “bases the evaluation
of the learners work on merit and quality of academic performance,” shall not “make deductions
from learners such scholastic ratings, as primary scholastic” and “determine academic marks… in
accordance with generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurements” and shall
handle each learner justly and impartially.
Should love to develop between teacher and student, the professional teacher is
expected to be fair because he/she shall “exercise utmost professional discretion to
avoid….preferential treatment of the learner.” Teacher fairness is assured when a teacher does
not accept favor or gifts from the learner or their parents in exchange for requested concessions.
The professional teacher is likewise described as “caring and compassionate.” Article
VIII points out that the professional teacher has the “interest and welfare of learners” as his/her
“first and foremost concern” and “under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced nor
discriminate against any learner.” The professional teacher is also seen to be caring and
compassionate when he/she does not inflict corporal punishment on offending learners.”
APPLICATION: Let’s Apply What You Learned
Prepare a 5-minute video presentation on “The Teacher and Learners”. The objective
of the video presentation is to give concrete instances of the teacher-learner professional
relationship. Be guided by Article VIII of the Code of Ethics.
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
THE TEACHER AND THE TEACHING COMMUNITY
Introduction
The professional teacher is not an island. He/she works with other professional
teachers, some more or less experienced than he/she is. Colleagues are teachers, partners, and
collaborators. How a teacher relates to his/her colleagues in the teaching profession determines
if they become one’s greatest allies and supporters or one’s greatest enemies.
ACTIVITY: Let’s Read These
ARTICLE III: The Teacher and the Teaching Community
Section 1. Teachers shall, at all times, be imbued with the spirit of professional loyalty, mutual
confidence, and faith in one another, self-sacrifice for the common good; and full cooperation
with colleagues. When the best interest of the learners, the school, or the profession is at stake
in any controversy, teachers shall support one another.
Section 2. A teacher is not entitled to claim credit or work not of his own, and shall give due credit
for the work of others which he may use.
Section 3. Before leaving his position, a teacher shall organize for whoever assumes the position
such records and other data as are necessary to carry on the work.
Section 4. A teacher shall hold inviolate all confidential information concerning associates and
the school, and shall not divulge to anyone documents which has not been officially released, or
remove records from files without permission.
Section 5. It shall be the responsibility of every teacher to seek correctives for what may appear
to be an unprofessional and unethical conduct of any associate. However, this may be done only
if there is incontrovertible evidence for such conduct.
Section 6. A teacher may submit to the proper authorities any justifiable criticism against an
associate, preferably in writing, without violating the right of the individual concerned.
Section 7. A teacher may apply for a vacant position for which he is qualified; provided that he
respects the system of selection on the basis of merit and competence; provided, further, that
all qualified candidates are given the opportunity to be considered.
ANALYSIS: Let’s Analyze
As a group, discuss how should a teacher relate to the teaching community based on
Article V.
ABSTRACTION: Let’s Add to What You Know
A professional teacher should work in collaboration with his/her fellow teachers.
Gossip destroys collegial relationships. It has no place in a professional community. A
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
brotherly/sisterly correction for what may appear to be unprofessional and unethical conduct of
an associate is an act that is becoming a professional.
Should there be justifiable criticism against a fellow teacher, the right recourse is to
submit to proper authorities any justifiable criticism.
It is unprofessional for the teacher to apply for a position for which he is not qualified.
Professionalism demands that selection is based on merit and competence. It is likewise
unprofessional to divulge confidential information concerning associates and the school.
Give credit to whom credit is due. A professional teacher will not claim credit for work,
not of his/her own.
In order not to jeopardize office operations or work, a teacher before leaving a position
shall organize records for his/her successor. Many a time a turn-over ceremony is well done but
up to ceremony only because records are not organized and so hampers the continuity of
operation.
In short at all times, professional teachers shall be loyal to and trust and support one
another for the common good.
APPLICATION: Let’s Apply What You Learned
Compose a rap or a song on how professional teachers should relate to one another to
form a genuine teaching community. Make sure the song is based on Article V.
THE TEACHER AND HIGHER AUTHORITIES
Introduction
In addition to colleagues in the teaching profession, professional teachers also relate
to higher authorities who are his/her school heads, supervisors and Schools Division
Superintendent, etc… How would he/she relate to them professionally.
ACTIVITY: Let’s Do These
ARTICLE IX: The Teacher and Higher Authorities
Section 1. Every teacher shall make it his duty to make an honest effort to understand and
support the legitimate policies of the school and the administration regardless of personal feeling
or private opinion and shall faithfully carry them out.
Section 2. A teacher shall not make any false accusations or charges against superiors, especially
under anonymity. However, if there are valid charges, he should present such under oath to
competent authority.
Section 3. A teacher shall transact all official business through channels except when special
conditions warrant a different procedure, such as when special conditions are advocated but are
opposed by immediate superiors, in which case, the teacher shall appeal directly to the
appropriate higher authority.
Section 4. Every teacher, individually or as part of a group, has a right to seek redress against
injustice to the administration and to extent possible, shall raise grievances within acceptable
democratic possesses. In doing so, they shall avoid jeopardizing the interest and the welfare of
learners whose right to learn must be respected.
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
Section 5. Every teacher has a right to invoke the principle that appointments, promotions, and
transfer of teachers are made only on the basis of merit and needed in the interest of the service.
Section 6. A teacher who accepts a position assumes a contractual obligation to live up to his
contract, assuming full knowledge of employment terms and conditions.
Let’s have a pretest on how the teacher relates to higher authorities in the Philippines. Answer
with a YES or NO.
Is it professional for a teacher:
1. to campaign against legitimate policies of the school and administration with which
he/she disagrees?
2. not to support a legitimate policy with which he/she disagrees?
3. to file charges against superiors under anonymity to protect himself/herself?
4. to transact official business through proper channels, no exception.
5. to go on strike with his group to seek redress against injustice?
6. to be promoted based only on years of service?
7. to complain against the transfer of teachers with whom the school head has prejudice?
ANALYSIS: Let’s Analyze
Share your answers with the class.
ABSTRACTION: Let’s Add to What You Know
It is unprofessional for teachers to campaign against legitimate policies of the school
and administration with which he/she disagrees. In contrast, the professional thing to do is to
support legitimate policies even though as a professional teacher one is personally against it. One
must exert effort to understand the wisdom of the policies of the administration. In the first
place, they may not have become policies if they are not for the good of the teachers.
It is likewise unprofessional to file charges against superiors under cover of anonymity.
If there is truth in the charges filed against superiors, one should not be afraid to come into the
open. “The truth shall set you free.”
To transact official business through proper channels is the professional and ethical
thing to do. There are exceptions, however. When the reforms advocated are opposed by the
immediate superior, the teacher shall appeal directly to the proper higher authority.
To go on strike is not professional. True, professional teachers have a right to seek
redress against injustice or discrimination but should do it in a manner that does not jeopardize
the welfare of learners whose right to learn must be respected. Teachers going on strike
adversely affects learners.
Appointments and promotions are based only on merit and need in the interest of
service of the profession. Likewise, the transfer of professional teachers is done on the basis of
merit and need. Transfer of a teacher made because of the school head’s prejudice towards the
teacher is unprofessional.
APPLICATION: Let’s Apply What You Learned
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
DAVAO DEL NORTE STATE COLLEGE
Institute of Teacher Education 0
Research on the steps a professional teacher should take if she decides to raise his
grievances against his superiors.
Reference: Corpuz, Brenda, Lucas, Ma. Rita D, et al. (2015). Child & Adolescent Development. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
Address: Davao del Norte State College Website: www.dnsc.edu.ph
Tadeco Road, New Visayas Email: president@dnsc.edu.ph
Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 8105 Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/davnorstatecollege
