Editorial: Teachers' ethics code should have real meaning

By: EDITORIAL | Opelika Auburn News
Published: June 19, 2009

Why the Alabama State School Board would endorse higher ethical standards for educators but not officially include them as part of its administrative code is puzzling. That’s like saying they agree with a policy, but aren’t willing to enforce it.

However, a vote is scheduled for July 11 to actually put this code of ethics into the board’s code.

Any vote other than “yes” is a vote against quality education, a vote against quality people and a vote against the better direction of the state of Alabama as a whole.

“In the majority of instances, it was a request based on the perception that if it’s not in the code, it doesn’t carry as much weight as the other standards,” said Tony Thacker, coordinator for Gov. Bob Riley’s commission on higher teaching.

The Alabama Educator Code of Ethics addresses issues ranging from teachers being supportive of their colleagues to warning educators against committing any acts of physical or verbal child abuse.

It also covers such topics as relationships with students, handling of public funds and public property and use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

At the same time, it’s not a bad idea that children and their parents appreciate the difficult task teachers have and maintain proper behavior.

There is no reason not to believe that an overwhelming majority of educators already meet or exceed high ethical standards.

Having such a code enforced should be a feather in their cap, proving just how admirable and professional they are.

There is also no reason why our state’s school administrators would want anything but the highest ethical standards for the men and women who educate our children. There should be no gray areas.

Everything should be cut and dried. There should be no escape clauses.

This is an era of steep budget cuts and countless stories of educators with inappropriate, if not unethical, actions against their pupils. The taxpayers of the state of Alabama, parents of children in public schools and the children themselves, deserve to know their teachers must meet the highest ethical standards.