(1)
Preamble. Educators, on whom
the development and perpetuation of knowledge depends, recognize their primary
responsibility is to students. As members of the teaching profession, educators
also recognize their responsibility to the educational system, to the
profession, and to the citizenry. These principles establish the elements of
professional behavior in light of these responsibilities. These principles are
intended to aid educators individually and collectively in maintaining a high
level of ethical conduct. These principles are standards by which educators are
able to determine the propriety of their conduct in their relationships with
students, with colleagues, and with the public.
(a)
Purpose. These principles
are intended to serve educators as a guide to ethical conduct. They provide a
sound basis for solution of many problems which arise in educators'
relationships with students, with other educators, and with the public.
Undoubtedly, interpretation of these principles by an appropriate authority
will be required at times. As a rule, however, educators who are capable,
honest, intelligent and vigilant, and who conduct their affairs in the light of
their own conscientious interpretation of these principles should have no
difficulty in the discharge of their ethical responsibilities.
(b)
Principles Applicable to
All. There is but one code of ethics for all certified
educators.
(c)
Ethics are
Principles. The wide extent of an unethical practice does not make it
ethical or ethically acceptable, for "Ethics" has to do with principles. For
the same reason, a procedure or conduct unethical in one area of the State
cannot be ethical under the same circumstances in another.
(2)
Introduction. The
Professional Teaching Practices Act, O.C.G.A. Section 20-2-790, et
seq., provides that the practice of teaching and the rendering of
administrative and supervisory services are recognized and declared to be
professional services affected with the public interest. Teaching is declared
to be a profession in this State with all similar rights, responsibilities, and
privileges accorded other recognized professions. The distinguishing
characteristics of a profession as opposed to occupations or trades, include
not only a special knowledge and education but a requirement that its members
adhere to an ethical code of professional behavior. It is the responsibility of
the profession to develop an ethical code of conduct which shall define the
professional behavior of educators in this State.
(a) The General Assembly of Georgia has
charged the Professional Practices Commission, the body responsible for
enforcing the Professional Teaching Practices act, with the duty of adopting a
code of professional ethics for educators which represents the standards of
conduct generally accepted by the education profession in this State. This Code
is established by the Professional Practices Commission to discharge that duty.
This Code is intended to set forth the conduct that is related to the
educator's performance of professional responsibilities that is considered to
be proper ethical behavior, as well as defining that conduct which is
considered by the education profession to be unethical and justifying
disciplinary sanction.
(b) It is
the intent of this Code:
(1) to protect the
health, safety, and general welfare of students and educators within the State
of Georgia;
(2) to assure the
citizens of the State that the education profession is accountable for acts of
unprofessional conduct of its members; and
(3) to define and provide notice to educators
within the State of Georgia of acts of unprofessional conduct for which they
are accountable pursuant to O.C.G.A. Section 20-2-790, et
seq.
(c) A
professional ethical code defines the responsibilities of the professional and
thus differs from a personal and ethical code in the area of its application.
While an individual educator's personal and professional ethical codes may
coincide, this code does not seek to regulate personal conduct. This Code
addresses the professional responsibilities of educators. The provisions of
this Code are not intended to be applicable to the private conduct of an
educator except where the educator's role as a private person is not
distinguishable from the role as an educator and the fulfillment of the
professional obligations.
(d) The
ethical standards of professional conduct may exceed but are never less than,
nor contrary to, those required by law. Violation of law may subject the
educator to civil or criminal liability, as provided in this Code of Ethics, in
local board of education policy, or the Rules of the Professional Standards
Commission. Revocation of a teaching certificate is the maximum penalty which
may be imposed by the teaching profession on an educator who violates the
ethical standards of the profession.
(e) An educational administrator is first a
teacher. The primary responsibilities of the administrator are to advance the
education of students, and therefore, are not different from those of the
classroom teacher, although the amount of time spent by the administrator and
classroom teacher on various duties and the perspective of the administrator
may vary. As a consequence, this Code should be construed as applying to all
educators who hold a valid Georgia Educator Certificate issued by the
Professional Standards Commission or its predecessor authority, the Georgia
Board of Education. Where the Code may present a specific concern(s) for the
administrator, those particular concerns will be detailed.
(3) Supplementary Definitions.
(a)
Educator. See
Teacher, Rule
506-1-.01(9).
(b)
Student. The term means the
following:
1. Any individual enrolled in a
course of study in an elementary, middle, or secondary school;
2. Any individual receiving instruction in a
school or program operated by or under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Human Resources, the Department of Children and Youth Services, the Georgia
Department of Education, or any other state agency; or
3. Any individual formerly enrolled in a
course of study in an elementary, middle, or secondary school who is under
eighteen years of age and who has not fulfilled secondary school graduation
requirements.
(c)
Colleague. Any person with whom the educator has a professional
relationship and includes fellow workers and employees, regardless of their
status as educators.
(d)
Supervisor. Any person who possesses the authority to evaluate or
direct the performance of a colleague.
O.C.G.A. Secs.
20-2-790-799.
