Chapter 3

The Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

Intended Learning Outcomes:

 Discuss, the provisions of the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

 Explain how professional teachers should relate to the state, community, parents, to the learners, the
teaching community, and higher authorities of the Philippines.
 Explain how a professional teacher should conduct himself/herself as a person, in the teaching profession,
and in business.

Activity: Read the articles and corresponding sections of the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers and AS A
GROUP (group of five members) answer the following questions/perform the activity::

LESSON 1 – THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS: THE PREAMBLE AND ARTICLE I

Article 1: Scope and Limitations, Sections 1 & 2

Questions:

1. Are teachers who have no license considered professional?

2. What do technical and professional competence mean? (You may refer to the lesson on the “Teacher as a
Professional”.

3. Are private school teachers required of a license? What about pre-school teachers, vocational teachers,
ALS teachers, school heads, Education Supervisors, and school Division Superintendent?

LESSON 2 – THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS: RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SECONDARY AND
TERTIARY STAKEHOLDERS – THE STATE, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PARENTS

Article II: The Teacher and the State, Sections 1 – 8

Questions:

1. The schools are “nurseries of the citizens of the state”. What are nurseries for? “Why are schools called
nurseries of the citizens of the state?”

2. “Each teacher is a trustee of the cultural and educational heritage of the nation and is under obligation to
transmit to learners such heritage.” In what ways can teachers do this?

3. In what ways can the professional teacher help elevate national morality, promote national pride, and
cultivate love of country?

4. What steps do employers take to ensure that a teacher is physically, mentally and morally fit?

5. Cite actions of a professional teacher that violate Section 5, Article II.

6. How can a professional teacher violate Sec. 6 and Sec. 7 of Article II?

7. Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom. What does academic freedom mean? Is this academic
freedom absolute?

Article III: The Teacher and the Community, Sections 1 – 8

Below are the keywords which you have to locate in Article III. Find them and read that section and answer
the question that follows.

Facilitator of learning leadership social recognition

Not use position to proselyte conducive environment community informed

 Harmonious official relations disparaging the community

Question: How should teachers relate to the community by using the keywords given?
Explain.

Article IX: The Teacher and Parents, Sections 1 – 3

View: How To: at A Teacher’s Guide to Parent-Teacher Conference @ YouTube. Take down notes and be
ready to share them with the class. Do you agree or disagree with all that which was shared in the video. If yes/no
which one. If you disagree, explain.

LESSON 3: THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS: RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.

Article VIII: The Teacher and the Learners, Sections 1 – 9

View on YouTube 1) “Developing Teacher-Student Relationships” 2) “The Power of Relationships in

Schools” 3) “Every Kid Needs a Champion” by Rita Pierson, TED Talk Education @
https://www.ted.com/talks/rita-pierson. Based on the videos show how should teachers relate to learners
to make a difference.
Short writing activity: “Wishes for my Teacher”

Article V: The Teacher and the Teaching Community, Sections 1 - 7

Study the figures below. What does each figure trying to say about how a teacher should relate to
his/her fellow teachers?
 Article VI: The Teacher and the Higher Authorities in the Philippines, Sections 1 – 6

Read Article VI
As a group, come up with a True-False test on Article VI of the Code of Ethics, then exchange with
another group for answering.

LESSON 4: THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS: HIS/HER PERSON, PROFESSION,
AND BUSINESS

Article IV: The Teacher and the Profession, Sections 1 – 5

Questions: Read the quotes on teaching profession. What does each quotation mean? To which Section of
Article IV does each quotation refer?
1. “I wish I could persuade every teacher to be proud of his occupation – not conceited and pompous, but
proud. People who introduce themselves with the shame remark that they are “just teachers” gives despair in my
heart. Did you ever hear a lawyer say depreciatingly that he was only a patent attorney? Did you ever hear a
physician ssay, “I am just a brain surgeon?” I beg of you to stop apologizing for being a member of the most
important profession in the world. Draw yourself up to your full height; look at anybody squarely in the eye and say,
“I am a Teacher.” – Will.

2. “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.” – Tim Duncan

3. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” –
Colin Powell

4. “Self-respect is the fruit of discipline; the sense of dignity goes with the ability to say no to oneself.” –
Abraham Joshua Heschel

5. “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” - Bobby Unser

6. “There are two kinds of pride: good and bad. Good pride represents our dignity and self-respect. Bad pride
is the deadly sin of superiority that recks of conceit and arrogance.” – John C. Maxwell

ARTICLE XI: THE TEACHER AS A PERSON, SECTIONS 1 – 4

Read Article XI and answer the following questions

1. What is the big challenge for a teacher? Are you ready to face the challenge?
2. There are more women than men in the teaching profession. Does this indicate that less men are able to
face the challenge of the teaching profession?
3. Describe the teacher as a person based on Article XI by way of a cinquain. A cinquain is a five-line poem
invented by an American poet AdelaideCrapsey who took her inspiration from Japanese haiku and tanka

Line 1 – one word

Line 2 – 2 adjectives that describe Line 1
Line 3 – 3 action words that relate to Line 1
Line 4 – 4 words (feelings) that relate to Line 1 or a complex sentence
Line 4 – 1 word, a synonym of line 1 or a word that sums it up.

Example:

Teacher,
Caring, compassionate,
Questioning, listening, responding.
I love her dearly,
Idol
 ARTICLE X: THE TEACHER AND BUSINESS, SECTIONS 1 – 3

Read Article X then do the activity that follows:

1. Consider the findings of the study on teacher’s borrowing as shared by DEpEd Secretary Leonor Briones:
A. The propensity of public school teachers to borrow is 50% higher compared to other employees of the
government such as the police and nurses..
B. Aside from the possibility of not receiving any pay once they retire, public school teachers may also suffer
sanctions due to their unpaid debts. There are more than 500 pending cases versus teachers filed by various lending
institutions. (Source: Merlinda Hernando-Malipot: Why Public School Teachers Tend to Borrow, Oct. 31, 2017 –
https://news.mb.com.ph.

Questions:
1. With teachers’ borrowing habits, which section of Article X do teachers fail to observe?
2. When do professional teachers violate Section 3 of Article X?

NOTE: Group leaders, do not forget to attach your rating of your members’ participation in the preparation of the
group output. Use the scale of 5.