Ethical Dilemma and Teachers: A Discussion of Three Scenarios

Situation One: Choosing Between Family and Professional Principles

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Ethics is the moral code and principles by which direction that guide individuals and organizations in their decision-making and behaviors. An ethical dilemma arises when these moral code and principles are contradict with each other. Ethical dilemma is complex situation which will end by two difficult choices, choosing one of them does not mean it is the right decision. Furthermore, ethical dilemma happens routinely in work environments where the employees make a choice that effect the benefit and success of the organization. In addition, the problem of ethical dilemmas is complex challenge that cannot easily resolve. Oftentimes, employees find that telling lies and not following the rules are the success way to achieve their personal goals. According to (Trotman,2001)” In life, there are always two choices; the selfish and the selfless”. Every individual may experience an ethical dilemma in each perspective of their life (personal, professional and social). As a teachers we encounter many ethical dilemmas at schools where there are two courses of action these ethical decisions may have an impact to our careers by either bad or good ways. This report will discuss three different situations that happened to us as a teachers in school and will end with recommendations 

of the hardest situations I've ever had as a teacher is the situation where I had to choose between a family member and my professional principles.

The situation I was exposed to was when I was a teacher in an elementary school, one of my students was one of my relatives. In most tests and activities, the student received a C as an evaluation. He was a good student in terms of participation and classroom activities, but he was not doing his best.

At first, the child's mother, who is a very close relative, started calling and texting me, that she wanted a copy of any activity or test before I gave it to the students in class, so she can train her son on it before the test, therefore he can get the full mark. "In the end, we are relatives, family , and family supporting each other" she said. She always used phrases and sentences about the family and the family deserved the best because she wanted to affect my feelings and decisions. She started to get very upset with me and talk about me badly in front of my family. Her annoyance started to increase gradually, after a while she used to call during my work time, claiming that she wants to check on her son.

Situation Two: Dealing with a Coordinator's Demands for Special Treatment

Characters

 Mother, son (student), teacher (me) , other class students.

I had two options. 

 first, to listen to all mother's requests and do it so I can keep our relationship strong and kind as a family.

 Second, to follow the rules, work ethics and my principles as a teacher and not do any immoral act

As a teacher I choose the principles of professionalism that are basically a part of my being and morals. I do not want to feel guilty and remorse that will disturb my life. Choosing the wrong choice can put me in endless difficult situations.
I don't want to sympathize with the mother at the expense of my principles and Morales. And if we assume that we take her opinion, I think that the harm will be to the student who will be dependent on others in all aspects of his life, especially in learning.  I will be a bad teacher who cares about people's opinion and does not care about ethics and professional principles.

The consequences of this decision, this mother started talking about me in a very bad way.  She avoided me and spoke inappropriately to me that I am a bad uncooperative teacher, I do not know how to explain, and I am not qualified to teach. This resulted in family problems between us 

Although people face many moral problems in their life, but most of them have a simple solution. However in the second situation I will explain about my terrible and strange story which is expressed the issue of Ethical dilemma.

I have been a teacher for two years at Braim Al khaboura private school. My students were grade in one and my major was English language. I can definitely say, to become a teacher was the best decision that I ever made. Sharing my knowledge and using my skills for the benefit of others means the word to me.

However, one day I went to the school as usual to teach my children. I had students from different areas and different cultures so it's normal to have different levels of student's mentally.

In my class I have a boy was the son of the coordinator. I can say that his level of education was not that good he had average level. However, my role as a teacher is to give my students their rights. I have written in his certification his level as how i see him in the classroom for example, I was writing your son is good but he needs more help.

Situation Three: Standing by One's Values Despite Resistance from Others

Next day, of the school, in the early morning I surprised that her mom 'the coordinator of our school' has different personality and different behavior with me. To illustrate more, first day she started ignoring me although I was strongly need her help because she has the responsibility of manage the printer of the papers and she refused to copy me papers or help me. Second day of our school, she started using bad words to me in order to embarrassing me in front of other teachers such us, selfish , not fair, you didn't deserve this job and etc. Then after the school she sent me a message saying that, I want you to put my child on front of the class and give him more chances to participate in the class and give him more attention than other students.

Characters

 coordinator, son (student), teacher( me), other class students.

In this situation, I have considered two options.

 The first choice is to push up her son by giving him additional marks in order to success and then pass the course.

The second option is to assess him by assign determined time in order to learn well.

As an English teacher, I definitely used to select the second choice which is right and equitable. Also, I don’t share this behavior with my teachers friends and school manager initially ,so

• this decision has defined by me only. There are several reasons of selecting this resolution. First cause is giving him opportunity to study hard through depending on his abilities and comprehension. Second, I am instructor and I have to be responsible of each ruling that I make thus I have to deal my learners equally and being fair to all of them. Third, I want his mother to recognise that the teaching career is a huge liability and my role as a teacher is to do my duty honestly. My situation towards this is to make this student get better marks with his classmates who are at the consistent standard as well, therefore interacting more during my lesson. In addition , I used to set extra homework to support them for getting understanding thus increasing their ability of learning. I believe that these methods.

When I had an experience of teaching in secondary school . The headteacher of the school gave me the responsibility to lead the school radio group activity. I was really interested  in that program because it was great medium for the students to express their ideas and thought. I worked hardly to find the best members who have the confidence , elocution, expressing  and writing skill, or any desire of being apart in radio school group. After completing the group members, we discussed all together to choose one student to be the leader of radio school in our school. After discussion, we chose the most suitable student who had the skills that qualified her to be the leader. Suddenly,  there was a sudden interference from another teacher in the school that she wanted her daughter to be the leader. I spoked with her politely, that we chose the leader and your daughter was not qualified to have this responsibility and ability. The teacher was so nervous , unapproachable  and insisted that her daughter must be the leader. Then I chose to speak strictly and seriously that her daughter will not be the leader at the cost of the school activity. After that, I went to the headteacher of the school and I  told her about the problem and I do not have the willing to break my values, morals and my honesty to satisfy  others desire without convincing reasons. During that time, that teacher stopped taking with me and she treated me impolitely but I was insisted and determined that I will not change my opinion. 

Characters

 ,daughter  (student), me , other class students, another Teacher

I had two choices.

First To make this student the president at the will of her mother, the headmaster, ignoring the criteria for selecting the leader and  the talented students.

Second To take into account the interest of the team first and the importance of choosing a suitable leader to achieve the goals of this school activity and to commit to my morality as a teacher and do what is right without submitting to the opinions and orders of external parties.

Of course I chose every student to get the role that suits her ,which  through it we will achieve the team's goals. I chose to do the right thing , take care of the interests of the students, and help them to discover their talents and their selves. I also chose to stick to my morality as a teacher and not to give up principles even though I was pressured by the highest authority.

• The administration must do discussions and case study to review ethical dilemmas faced by school stuff.
• Provides workshops to highlight how to navigate complex ethical dilemmas, guided by organizational values and principles of the international civil service.

• Conducting awareness-raising meetings in school to educate parents about the necessity of letting the students depend on himself and not interfering in the decisions and activates of the teacher.
• The parents should make sure they provide all their children needs and achieve their requirements to positively affect on their level of studying.