Examining Code of Ethics

 

The 3 ideals contained in the NAEYC Code of Ethics that are meaningful to me as an early childhood educator/professional……

Ethical Responsibilities to Children

I-1.7-To use assessment information to understand and support children’s development and learning, to support instruction, and to identify children who may need additional services.

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

I-2.2-To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.

Ethical Responsibilities to Employees

I-3C.4-To encourage and support continual development of employees in becoming more skilled and knowledgeable practitioners.

All three ideals in the NAEYC Code of Ethics are significantly important to my professional career as an educator in this field because relationships with families turn into partnerships when they share a common goal, for example supporting the academic success in terms of their child’s developmental growth; and share the responsibility as a team towards reaching that goal. Creating these partnerships and mutual trust with families is critical to their child’s development because it allows opportunity during parent-teacher conferences to discuss their child’s developmental growth from assessment information documented by the teacher. It is important to give on-going feedback to help parents understand their child’s strengths, as well as communicating additional support and/or for their child for areas of concern. Last but not least, it is very important for me as a leader in the field of early childhood to hire teachers who have sound knowledge of content areas of early education and able to provide children experiences that help foster learning and development. To maintain that knowledge and keep teaching innovative; continual professional learning should be a priority to increase the quality of teaching through new practices, help improve each teacher’s knowledge and skills, as well as give new ideas for teaching techniques.

The 3 ideals contained in the DEC code of ethics that are meaningful to me are…

Professional Practice

• We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities inorder to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work.

Professional Development and Preparation

• We shall be responsible for maintaining the appropriate national, state, or other credential or licensure requirements for the services we provide while maintaining our competence in practice and research by ongoing participation in professional development and education activities.

Responsive Family Centered Practices (Enhancement of Children’s Families’ Quality of Lives)

• We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture.

All three DEC code of ethics are significantly important to my professional career as an educator in the field demonstrating the highest standard as a professional to me means understanding the ethical issues involved in caring for children and acting in an professional manner. Exhibiting professionalism in everyday practice can involve becoming accredited or licensed. As a Director/Administrator it was exciting and at the same time exhausting becoming an NAEYC accredited Early Learning program, but for all involved, NAEYC accreditation improved our knowledge and skills which benefits the children in our care and also gave my staff and I the confidence, new ideas, and practice that makes our facility attractive to families in the community and our teachers job a little easier.