naeyc The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct: A Position Statement of The National Association for the Education of Young Children Guidelines for Responsible Behavior in Early Childhood Education

naeyc The Code of Ethical Conduct Offers guidelines for responsible behavior Sets forth a common basis for resolving the principal ethical dilemmas encountered in early education & care From the Preamble to the Code

naeyc The Code of Ethical Conduct Primary focus: daily practice with children & their families Revised periodically—current version approved April 2005 Recent Additions: Supplement for EC Adult Educators (Joint statement developed with NAECTE & ACCESS) and Supplement for EC Program Admini- strators

naeyc So,What Are Ethics Anyway?

naeyc To answer that question, we have to begin by looking at: Values Morality Professional Core Values Ethics Professional Ethics Ethical Responsi- bilities & Dilemmas

VALUES What Do You Value?

naeyc VALUES Values are things that an individual believes to be intrinsically worthwhile or desirable, that are prized for themselves (e.g., truth, beauty, honesty justice, respect for people and for the environment).

naeyc MORALITY Morality involves peoples' views of what is good, right, or proper; their beliefs about their obligations; and their ideas about how they should behave. Morality concerns duties and obligations to one another and is characterized by words such as right, ought, just and fair.

naeyc ETHICS Ethics is the study of right and wrong, duties and obligations. Ethics involves critical reflection on morality, including the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships.

naeyc PROFESSIONAL ETHICS The moral commitments of a profession that: involve moral reflection that extends and enhances the personal morality practitioners bring to their work, concern actions of right and wrong in the workplace, and help individuals resolve moral dilemmas they encounter in their work.

naeyc Ethical Responsibilities & Ethical Dilemmas Ethical Responsibilities --clear-cut, spelled out Ethical Dilemma --conflicting professional values & responsibilities

naeyc What Does a Code of Ethics Do? Creates a profession’s sense of identity Identifies the issues the profession cares about and wants new members to care about Communicates with those outside the profession what they can expect from its members

naeyc HISTORY OF THE CODE Initially prepared under the auspices of the Ethics Commission of NAEYC, which became the Ethics Panel Its development was a 5-year process, involving NAEYC membership Draft Code approved by NAEYC Governing Board July 1989

naeyc HISTORY OF THE CODE (cont.) 1 st set of revisions adopted nd set of revisions approved by Board November 1997 Code is reviewed for revision periodically (every 5 years)

naeyc REVISION PROCESS Undertaken according to NAEYC’s procedures for position statements NAEYC 2003 Annual Conference gathered feedback re: revisions—Ethics Interest Forum & conference session participants Request for input on NAEYC Web site March 2004 Governing Board appointed workgroup

naeyc REVISION PROCESS (cont.) Workgroup reviewed feedback received, suggested recommendations Developed Draft revised Code Draft revised Code posted on Web site—requesting feedback Request for feedback from EC leaders, seeking diverse perspectives Final draft; Board review/approval April 2005

naeyc The Code… The goal of NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct is to inform, not prescribe, answers in tough decisions that teachers and other early childhood professionals must make as they work with children and families. The strategy inherent in the code is to promote the application of core values, ideals, and principles to guide decisionmaking about ethical issues. S. Feeney & N. Freeman, Ethics and The Early Childhood Educator: Using the NAEYC Code.

naeyc THE CODE of ETHICAL CONDUCT Core values Conceptual framework Ideals—reflect the aspirations of practitioners Principles—intended to guide conduct and assist practitioners in resolving ethical dilemmas

naeyc Features of the Code Ideals & principles direct practitioners to those questions that, when answered, provide basis for conscientious decisionmaking Many situations with ethical dimensions will require practitioner to combine guidance of the Code with sound professional judgment

naeyc Sections of the Code Section I: Ethical responsibilities to children Section II: Ethical responsibilities to families Section III: Ethical responsibilities to colleagues (coworkers, employers, employees) Section IV: Ethical responsibilities to community and society Statement of Commitment

naeyc Revised Code Same format as previous versions (Core Values, 4 sections, Ideals and Principles, etc.) Revision of Core Values Language updated & simplified Issues regarding child assessment and accountability as well as diversity are more fully addressed

naeyc Revised Code (cont.) Ethical responsibilities to Community & Society (Section 4)—”Individual” & “Collective” responsibilities Statement of Commitment modified Glossary of terms related to ethics added

naeyc 2005 Code and the 1997 Code

naeyc What do we do? ID Problem ↓ No: Seek solution Involves ethics? ↓ Yes (issues of right, wrong…) Responsibility: Do what is right Dilemma or responsibility? ↓ Dilemma: You have a choice… Yes: Solve it!Can it be solved with ethical finesse? ↓ No…

naeyc What do we do? Look for guidance in Code, get more info… ↓ Yes: Seek legal advice! Legal dimension? ↓ No… Decide on a course of action ↓ Issue resolved!

Let’s Play a Game! What Would the Good EC Educator Do?

naeyc What Would the Good EC Educator Do? A game with rules! You’ll play this game with your colleagues

naeyc What Would the Good EC Educator Do? Choose from Group 1 AND Group 2 Use the Code for guidance What core values apply? To whom do you have responsibilities? What guidance is in the Code? What would the “good ECEer” do?

What Would the Good EC Educator Do? Discuss… (and it’s OK to change your decisions after hearing from your colleagues)

naeyc So, How Can the Code Be Used in Real-Life Situations

naeyc Why Is the Existence of the Code Important to ECE?

naeyc The Code of Ethical Conduct Final Thoughts