CHAPTER

3
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TEACHERS:
MORAL AND ETHICAL

Teaching is a human and moral relationship it involves interaction between and among
pupils, parents, colleagues and school officials.

To maintain cordial and harmonious relationship with the clientele, teachers must develop
awareness and sensitivity to the code of ethics which underpin the standards of conduct in the
profession.

Intended Learning Outcome (ILO)

Apply the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers in given situations.

INTRODUCTION
The role of the teachers is to educate. They create and control the learning process they
encourage participation and interaction of students in the acquisition of knowledge skills and values
needed to prepare them for the roles in society.

To achieve their objectives, teachers need to manage the classroom effectively. This calls for
the teachers' skill in establishing a healthy relationship with the students. They need to explore the
right, duties and moral principles embodied in the Ethical Standards for Teachers to maintain their
trust and respect. This calls for their awareness and commitment to the moral and ethical dimensions
of teaching and bodied with the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

This chapter will explore the provisions of the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers to
ensure that every member of the teaching profession takes cognizance and adheres to these
principles.

At the end of the chapter, situations will be given to you for decision-making as an ethical and
moral virtuous professional teacher.
 Morals and ethics are often used interchangeably but they almost seem the same.

Ethics refers to a system of principles of conduct that guide the behavior of a person. It is
concerned with individual character like being a good person. It is also concerned with a character
of an entire society culture or profession.

Morals or values related to a system of beliefs religious system, business or political

system. These values get their authority from outside or higher authority. Moral values include
honesty, integrity, compassion, courage, honor, responsibility, patriotism, respect and fairness.

Ethics or morality studies the “good” and “bad” of human behavior, thoughts and feelings. It
analyzes how man should treat others as well as himself.

Ethics is about actions and decisions. A person acts in accordance with his values. A person
who behaves according to the core values he upholds is to be acting ethically.

Morality maybe divided into three stages:

• Morality or self-interest is characterized by doing the act or the behavior to gain

rewards or avoid punishment. In other words, it is the reward or punishment
consequences that guide people’s action.

• Morality of law and social rules apply when the action or behavior of the individual is
determined by the rule and authority, meaning people’s action are motivated by
obedience and respect for law. They also aim to gain approval and avoid disapproval of
their behavior.

• Morality of abstract principles are exhibited by people who assume personal

responsibility in their behavior. People who have reached this level no longer aim for
approval or disapproval of their action. Their behavior is guided by their ethical
principles and moral values.

In the discharge of their duties as professional teachers, they have to conform to certain
ethical standards: set out by the Teaching Council. These standards guide the teachers in the
performance of their function, these also safeguard the rights of the professionals and enhance the
goal of their work.

• Respect
Teachers need to demonstrate respect for spiritual and cultural values, diversity,
social justice, freedom and democracy. This is in relation to their role to address and
promote human dignity.

• Integrity
Teachers are persons of integrity. This means being honest, reliable and morally
upright. They should be true to their commitment and responsibilities as teachers.
 • Care
Being the second parents of the students, teachers should take the best interest of the
students as their credo. These students have been entrusted to them and therefore
should be treated with love and care and compassion. They should provide a caring
commitment where the students would feel valued and accepted. Teachers should show
positive influence and empathy when dealing with the students. This will strengthen the
bond between the teacher and student.

• Trust
Trust is the foundation of a strong relationship. Trust means being fair, honest, and being
open to people. Trust begets trust; teachers should show they believe and trust their
students. Consequently, the teachers earn their trust and respect for them

CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

Ethical codes help ensure that the members of the profession will deal justly with the public.
It is viewed as the hallmark of professional maturity. It also provides guidance for the professionals
on decision-making.

Below is the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers. Analyze each provision and learn it by
heart to guide you in decision-making as a professional.

CODE OF ETHICS

Resolution No. 435

Series of 1997
Pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph E, Article II of R.A. No. 7836, otherwise known as the
“Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994” and Paragraph (a), Section 6, P.D. No. 223, as
amended, the Board for Professional Teachers hereby adopts and promulgates the following “Code of
Ethics for Professional Teachers”.

PREAMBLE
Teachers are duly licensed professionals who possesses dignity and reputation with high moral
values as well as technical and professional competence in the practice of their noble profession, and
they strictly adhere to, observe, and practice this set of ethical and moral principles, standards, and
values.

ARTICLE I
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
Section 1. The Philippine Constitution provides that all educational institutional shall offer quality
education for all competent teachers. Committed to its full realization, the provision of this Code shall
apply, therefore, to all teachers in schools in the Philippines.

Section 2. This Code covers all public and private school teachers in all educational institutions at the
preschool, primary, elementary, and secondary levels whether academic, vocational, special, technical,
or non-formal. The term “teacher” shall include industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other
persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all school at the aforesaid levels,
whether on full time or part-time basis.
 Reflect
Who are covered by the Code of Ethics?

ARTICLE II
THE TEACHER AND THE STATE
Section 1. The schools are the nurseries of the future citizens of the state; each teachers is a trustee of
the cultural and educational heritage of the nation and is under obligation to transmit to learners such
heritage as well as to elevate national morality, promote national pride, cultivate love of country, instill
allegiance to the Constitution and for all duly constituted authorities, and promote obedience to the laws
of the state.

Section 2. Every teacher or school official shall actively help carry out the declared policies of the state,
and shall take an oath to this effect.

Section 3. In the interest of the State and of eh Filipino people as much as of his own, every teacher shall
by physically, mentally and morally fit.

Section 4. Every teacher shall possess and actualize a full commitment and devotion to duty.

Section 5. A teacher shall not engage in the promotion of any political, religious, or other partisan
interest, and shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, require, collect, or receive any money or service or
other valuable material from any person or entity for such purposes.

Section 6. Every teacher shall vote and shall exercise all other constitutional rights and responsibility.

Section 7. A teacher shall not use his position or official authority or influence to coerce any other person
to follow any political course of action.

Section 8. Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom and shall have privilege of expounding the
product of his researches and investigations; provided that, if the results are inimical to the declared
policies of the State, they shall be brought to the proper authorities for appropriate remedial action.

Reflect
• What is the academic freedom of teachers?
• Why should teachers be physically, mentally, and morally fit?

ARTICLE III
THE TEACHER AND THE COMMUNITY
Section 1. A teacher is a facilitator of learning and of the development of the youth; he shall, therefore,
render the best service by providing an environment conducive to such learning and growth.

Section 2. Every teacher shall provide leadership and initiative to actively participate in community
movements for moral, social, educational, economic and civic betterment.

Section 3. Every teacher shall merit reasonable social recognition for which purpose he shall behave
with honor and dignity at all times and refrain from such activities as gambling, smoking, drunkenness,
and other excesses, much less illicit relations.
Section 4. Every teacher shall live for and with the community and shall, therefore, study and understand
local customs and traditions in order to have sympathetic attitude, therefore, refrain from disparaging
the community.

Section 5. Every teacher shall help the school keep the people in the community informed about the
school’s work and accomplishments as well as its needs and problems.

Section 6. Every teacher is intellectual leader in the community, especially in the barangay, and shall
welcome the opportunity to provide such leadership when needed, to extend counseling services, as
appropriate, and to actively be involved in matters affecting the welfare of the people.

Section 7. Every teacher shall maintain harmonious and pleasant personal and official relations with
other professionals, with government officials, and with the people, individually or collectively.

Section 8. A teacher possesses freedom to attend church and worship as appropriate, but shall not use
his positions and influence to proselyte others.

Reflect
• As a facilitator of learning, what is your responsibility to the students?
• What practices manifest honorable and dignified behavior?
• Why do you need to study about the community you are assigned to?

ARTICLE IV
THE TEACHER AND THE PROFESSION
Section 1. Every teacher shall actively ensure that teaching is the noblest profession, and shall manifest
genuine enthusiasm and pride in teaching as a noble calling.

Section 2. Every teacher shall uphold the highest possible standards of quality education, shall make the
best preparations for the career of teaching, and shall be at his best at all times and in the practice of his
profession.

Section 3. Every teacher shall participate in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program of the
Professional Regulation Commission, and shall pursue such other studies as will improve his efficiency,
enhance the prestige of the profession, and strengthen his competence, virtues, and productivity in order
to be nationally and internationally competitive.

Section 4. Every teacher shall help, if duly authorized, to seek support from the school, but shall not
make improper misrepresentations through personal advertisements and other dignified means for
earning a decent living.

Reflect
• How could you show that you belong to the noblest profession?
• Why should teachers participate in the Continuing Professional Education
program of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)?

ARTICLE V
THE TEACHER AND THE TEACHING COMMUNITY
Section 1. Teachers shall, at all times, be imbued with the spirit of professional loyalty, mutual
confidence, and faith in one another, self-sacrifice for the common good, and full cooperation with
colleagues. When the best interest of the learners, the school, or the profession is at stake in any
controversy, teachers shall support one another.
Section 2. A teacher is not entitled to claim credit or work not of his own, and shall give due credit for
the work of others which he may use.

Section 3. Before leaving his position, a teacher shall organize for whoever assumes the position such as
records and other data as are necessary to carry on the work.

Section 4. A teacher shall hold inviolate all confidential information concerning associates and the
school, and shall not divulge to anyone documents which has not been officially released, or remove
records from files without permission.

Section 5. It shall be the responsibility of every teacher to seek correctives for what may appear to be an
unprofessional and unethical conduct of any associate. However, this may be done only if there is
incontrovertible evidence of such conduct.

Section 6. A teacher may submit to the proper authorities any justifiable criticism against an associate,
preferably in writing, without violating the right of the individual concerned.

Section 7. A teacher may apply for a vacant position for which he is qualified, provided that he respects
the system of selection on the basis of merit and competence; provided, further, that all qualified
candidates are given the opportunity to be considered.

Reflect
• What is your responsibility regarding confidential information?
• In times of controversies affecting the learners, the school or the profession,
what should be your stand as a teacher? Why?

ARTICLE VI
THE TEACHER AND THE HIGHER AUTHORITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Section 1. Every teacher shall make it his duty to make an honest effort to understand and support the
legitimate policies of the school and the administration regardless of personal feeling or private opinion
and shall faithfully carry them out.

Section 2. A teacher shall not make any false accusations or charges against superiors, especially under
anonymity. However, it there are valid charges, he should present such under oath to competent
authority.

Section 3. A teacher shall transact all official business through channels except when special conditions
warrant a different procedure, such as when special conditions are advocated but are opposed by
immediate superiors, in which case, the teacher shall appear directly to the appropriate higher authority.

Section 4. Every teacher, individually or as part of a group, has a right to seek redress against injustice
to the administration and to the extent possible, shall raise grievances within acceptable democratic
process. In doing so, they shall avoid jeopardizing the interest and the welfare of learners whose right to
learn must be respected.

Section 5. Every teacher has a right to invoke the principle that appointments, promotions, and transfer
of teachers are made only on the basis of merit and need in the interest of the service.

Section 6. A teacher who accepts a position assumes a contractual obligation to live up to his contract,
assuming full knowledge of employment terms and conditions.
 Reflect
• What is your obligation to the school and the administration you work with?
• You have the right to seek redress against injustice to the administration,
how are you going to do that?
• What is your obligation as a contractual teacher?

ARTICLE VII
SCHOOL OFFICIALS, TEACHERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL
Section 1. All school officials shall at all times show professional courtesy, helpfulness and sympathy
towards teachers and other personnel, such practices being standard of effective school supervision,
dignified administration, responsible leadership and enlightened directions.

Section 2. School officials, teachers, and other school personnel shall consider it their cooperative
responsibility to formulate policies or introduce important changes in the system at all levels.

Section 3. School officials shall encourage and attend the professional growth of all teachers under them
such as recommending them for promotion, giving them due recognition for meritorious performance,
and allowing them to participate in conferences and training programs.

Section 4. No school officials shall dismiss or recommend for dismissal a teacher or other subordinates
except for cause.

Section 5. School authorities concern shall ensure that public school teachers are employed in
accordance with pertinent civil service rules, and private school teachers are issued contracts specifying
the terms and conditions of their work; provided that they are given, if qualified, subsequent permanent
tenure, in accordance with existing laws and provided further that they are duty registered and licensed
professional teachers.

Reflect
When can a teacher be dismissed from service?

ARTICLE VIII
THE TEACHER AND LEARNERS
Section 1. A teacher has the right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotions of
learners in the subject or grades he handles, provided that such determination shall be in accordance
with generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurement. In case of any complaint, teacher
concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, observing due process.

Section 2. A teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are his first and foremost
concern, and shall handle each learner justly and impartially.

Section 3. Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against a learner.

Section 4. A teacher shall not accept favors or gifts from learners, their parents or others in their behalf
in exchange for requested concessions, especially if underserved.

Section 5. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials other than
what is authorized for such service.
Section 6. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of academic
performance.

Section 7. In a situation where mutual attraction and subsequent love develop between teacher and
learner, the teacher shall exercise utmost professional discretion to avoid scandal, gossip and
preferential treatment of the learner.

Section 8. A teacher shall not inflict corporal punishment on offending learners nor make deductions
from their scholastic ratings as a punishment for acts which are clearly not manifestation of poor
scholarship.

Section 9. A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of learners
are adequate, and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving learner’s problems and
difficulties.

Reflect
What should be the teacher’s attitude towards gifts?

ARTICLE IX
THE TEACHER AND PARENTS
Section 1. Every teacher shall establish and maintain cordial relations with parents, and shall conduct
himself to merit their confidence and respect.

Section 2. Every teacher shall inform parents, through proper authorities, of the progress and
deficiencies of learners under him, exercising utmost candor and tact in pointing out the learner’s
deficiencies and in seeking parent’s cooperation for the proper guidance and improvement of learners.

Section 3. A teacher shall hear parent’s complaints with sympathy and understanding, and shall
discourage unfair criticism.

Reflect
How can you establish cordial relationship with parents?

ARTICLE X
THE TEACHER AND BUSINESS
Section 1. A teacher has the right to engage, directly or indirectly, in legitimate income generation;
provided that it does not relate to or adversely affect his work as a teacher.

Section 2. A teacher shall maintain a good reputation with respect to the financial matters such as in the
settlement of his debts and loans in arranging satisfactorily his private financial affairs.

Section 3. No teacher shall act, directly or indirectly, as agent of, or be financially interested in, any
commercial venture which furnish textbooks and other school commodities in the purchase and disposal
of which he can exercise official influence, except only when his assignment is inherently, related to such
purchase and disposal provided that they shall be in accordance with the existing regulations; provided,
further, that members of duly recognized teachers’ cooperatives may participate in the distribution and
sale of such commodities.
 Reflect
• Name some legitimate income generating activities you could engage in to augment
your income?
• How are you going to deal with it?

ARTICLE XI
THE TEACHER AS A PERSON
Section 1. A teacher is, above all, a human being endowed with life for which it is the highest obligation
to live with dignity at all times whether in school, in the home, or elsewhere.

Section 2. A teacher shall place premium upon self-discipline as the primary principle or personal
behavior in all relationships with others and in all situations.

Section 3. A teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified personality which could serve as a model
worthy of emulation by learners, peers and all others.

Section 4. A teacher shall always recognize the Almighty God as guide of his own destiny and of the
destinies of men and nations.

Reflect
• What is the primary principle a teacher should consider regarding relationship
with others?
• How could a teacher exemplify dignified personality?

ARTICLE XII
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Section 1. Any violation of any provision of this Code shall sufficient ground for the imposition against
the erring teacher of the disciplinary action consisting of revocation of his Certificate of Registration and
License as a Professional Teacher, suspension from the practice of teaching profession, or reprimand, or
cancellation of his temporary/special permit under causes specified in Sec. 23, Article III or R.A. No. 7836,
and under Rule 31, Article VIII, of the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. 7836.

Reflect
What disciplinary actions could be imposed to erring teacher who violate the
provision of the Code?

ARTICLE XIII
EFFECTIVITY
Section 1. This Code shall take effect upon approval by the Professional Regulation Commission and
shall take effect after sixty (60) days following its publication in the official Gazette or any newspaper of
general circulation, whichever is earlier.