Naeyc code of ethics scenarios

Code Of Ethical Conduct

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: APPLYING THE NAEYC CODE

Why is understanding the Code of Ethics essential for Early Childhood educators? (Using the “Ethics TODAY in Early Care and Education” article discusses a minimum of 2 points from pages 74- 76. Include which points you chose to discuss).

Review the situations that are listed at the bottom of this document. Choose one item from Group 1 or from Group 2 that you wish to explore further. Write the group number and letter for the scenario you chose in the space below. Use the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct Position Statement article for guidance in figuring out what you might do if faced with these situations.

Group_____ Situation_____ (fill in the blanks)

What core value(s) apply in this situation?

To whom do you have responsibilities and why?

What guidance can you find in the Code? Include evidence from the article as well as from the position statement. List a minimum of 3 relevant ideals and principles from the Code of Ethics position statement (be sure to include the letters and numbers)

Based on your analysis of the guidance from the Code what do you think "the good early childhood educator" should do in this situation?

PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: APPLYING THE NAEYC CODE (cont.)

The Situations:

Group 1

A. A. The program you teach for is under pressure to use “standardized paper-and-pencil” tests. You’ve been told that two tests have been chosen and you’ll receive training on how to administer them. Your observation recordings will no longer be used to assess children’s progress. You’ve heard that for these tests you must remove the child from the classroom and take him to another room to test him. You’re worried that many children will find this to be stressful, and you’re also concerned about leaving your aide alone with all the other children in the group for long periods of time.

A. B. You’ve been teaching in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual program for many years. You speak English and Spanish and you’ve used both languages in your classroom—for conversing with children and other adults, for labeling the bookshelves, etc. You also have several Vietnamese children who do not speak English in your group. You’ve asked their parents to teach you some words in Vietnamese so that you can help children with routines and in their play—words such as “bathroom,” “outside,” “inside,” and “lunch.” Several parents whose home language is Spanish are concerned that their children will not learn English if you keep speaking Spanish in the classroom. And, the Vietnamese families do not want their children speaking Vietnamese in the classroom. They want you to have “English lessons” for the toddlers and preschoolers.

A. C. Your program uses a standardized test for assessing children’s progress. You’ve been given a copy of the test and told that you must drill children on these items throughout the year so that they all will do well on the test.

Group 2

A. D. A parent calls to express concern that her three-year-old daughter is permitted to walk the short distance to the bathroom without an adult accompanying and waiting for her. You reassure her that the security in your center is good, but she insists that her child must be individually escorted to the bathroom.

A. E. Families who previously had children enrolled in a nearby preschool have told you stories of what happened to their children in that center. They describe dirty sheets on the cots, harsh punishments including withholding food, and ratios of twenty children

to one adult. One day you drive by and see a lot covered with asphalt and dry grass. There are a few rusting pieces of playground equipment. Several children are standing along the chain link fence looking at the cars going by. There are no adults in sight.

A. F. The mother of a child in your school is a single parent. She has fallen behind on her tuition payments and is currently 2 months in arrears. She was arrested on drug charges about a month ago. Right now she is in jail trying to make bail. The child is staying with the maternal grandmother who works and brings him to the center. Several families are waiting for a space in the center. They are financially qualified and anxious for their children to be enrolled. Should the center’s policy for prompt payment of tuition be disregarded, upheld, or revised?

A. G. A parent in our program has deep Biblical values and believes in "sparing the rod, spoiling the child." Her child who is almost two years old has been consistently hitting other children in your group. When you shared with her other alternatives to disciplining at home visits, she responded by saying, "I only listen to my pastor."

A. H. A parent asks if he can bring a young sibling to a parent workshop even though there is a policy that younger siblings should not be brought to school. You have had problems with parents violating the no sibling rule but you also think this parent could benefit greatly from the content of the workshop.

Developed by Stephanie Feeney, Nancy Freeman, and Peter Pizzolongo Copyright NAEYC 2008