Teachers as Role Model to Students
1. It is to state the obvious that schools, next only to the home, wield a weighty influence upon the students, especially during the latter's formative years, for it instills in them the values and mores which shall prepare them to discharge their rightful responsibilities as mature individuals in society. At the vanguard in nurturing their growth are the teachers who are directly charged with rearing and educating them. As such, a teacher serves as a role model for his students. Corollarily, he must not bring the teaching profession into public disrespect or disgrace. For failure to live up to the exacting moral standards demanded by his or her profession he or her … was dismissed from his or her employment on the ground of … immorality.
2. Being a teacher, he or she “must live up to the high moral standards required of his or her position.” In other words, in dismissing/disciplining the teacher is to preserve the respect of the community towards the teachers and to strengthen the educational system. 3. To constitute immorality, the circumstances must be holistically considered and evaluated in light of the prevailing norms of conduct and applicable laws. American jurisprudence has defined immorality as a course of conduct which offends the morals of the community and is a bad example to the youth whose ideals a teacher is supposed to foster and to elevate, the same including sexual misconduct. 4. We cannot overemphasize that having an extra-marital affair is an affront to the sanctity of marriage, which is a basic institution of society. Even our Family Code provides that husband and wife must live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity. This is rooted in the fact that both our Constitution and our Church Teachings cherish the validity of marriage and unity of the family. In implementing this, the edict on marriage and the family underscore their permanence, inviolability and solidarity. As a teacher, he serves as an example to his pupils, especially during their formative years and stands in loco parentis to them. To stress their importance in our society, teachers are given substitute and special parental authority under our laws. 5. Teachers must adhere to the exacting standards of morality and decency. There is no dichotomy of morality. A teacher, both in his official and personal conduct, must display exemplary behavior. He must freely and willingly accept restrictions on his conduct that might be viewed irksome by ordinary citizens. In other words, the personal behavior of teachers, in and outside the classroom, must be beyond reproach. 6. Every teacher shall actively insure that teaching is the noblest profession, and shall manifest genuine enthusiasm and pride in teaching as a noble calling. He or she 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. (Art. IV, Sec. 1 and 2 of the CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article 11, of R. A,. No. 7836, otherwise known as the Philippines Professionalization Act of 1994 and Paragraph (a), section 6, P.D. No. 223, as amended, the Board for Professional Teachers hereby adopt the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.) 7. Teacher 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, teacher shall support one another. (Art. V, Sec. 1 of the CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS) 8. Accordingly, teachers must abide by a standard of personal conduct which not only proscribes the commission of immoral acts, but also prohibits behavior creating a suspicion of immorality because of the harmful impression it might have on the students. Likewise, they must observe a high standard of integrity and honesty. When a teacher engages in extra-marital relationship, especially when the parties are both married, such behavior amounts to immorality, justifying his termination from employment. |
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