“Are NFL players participating in Civil Disobedience?“
That is the question that was put to Elizabeth Talon’s class – but was the NFL really the true subject of this “lesson”?
First, let’s put a baseline into place examine the new Code of Ethics that was adopted earlier this month by the NH Board of Education in that a few snippets may well apply (found here, emphasis mine):
- The educator accepts the responsibility to practice within the educational profession according to the highest ethical standards and aspires to continuously and consistently make decisions which are, first and foremost, within the best interests of the student.
- There is also a recognition that the decisions and actions that the educator makes, whether inside or outside of the school and classroom, may be reflective of ones’ professional judgment.
- An educator holds a position which is imbued with public trust. As such, one of the educator’s obligations is to ensure that each student is treated with dignity and respect. An educator also establishes and maintains appropriate verbal, physical, emotional and social boundaries with every student.
- The educator models effective relationships and communicates responsibly among members of the school community, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
Respects diversity amongst…students, parents or guardians….
Here, too, might be some relevant parts from the NEA Code of Ethics:
PRINCIPLE I
COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENT
The educator strives to help each student realize his or her potential as a worthy and effective member of society. The educator therefore works to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.In fulfillment of the obligation to the student, the educator–
…
3. Shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student’s progress.
4. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety.
5. Shall not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement.
…
PRINCIPLE II
COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSION
The education profession is vested by the public with a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of professional service.In the belief that the quality of the services of the education profession directly influences the nation and its citizens, the educator shall exert every effort to raise professional standards, to promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgment, to achieve conditions that attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education, and to assist in preventing the practice of the profession by unqualified persons…
Hopefully this is setting the back side of the story (perhaps, literally the backside). You see, people send me stuff…Windham School District; the gift that keeps falling all over itself.
