ATSW Professionalism & Ethical Practices in Teaching 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher is offered a gift card worth $75 from a parent who wants their child to receive extra tutoring attention. The teacher should:
- Accept it as a token of appreciation and provide extra help
- Decline the gift and explain that providing equitable attention to all students is their professional duty (Correct answer)
- Accept but not change any grades or evaluations
- Redirect the gift to the class fund and then provide extra help
Correct answer: Decline the gift and explain that providing equitable attention to all students is their professional duty
Accepting gifts that could create an appearance of favoritism violates professional ethics and conflicts of interest policies.
Question 2: During a professional learning community (PLC) meeting, a teacher disagrees with a new curriculum approach. What is the most professional response?
- Refuse to implement the new curriculum in their classroom
- Express concerns respectfully and propose alternative evidence-based approaches through appropriate channels (Correct answer)
- Complain about the decision to students and parents
- Implement the curriculum only when observed by administrators
Correct answer: Express concerns respectfully and propose alternative evidence-based approaches through appropriate channels
Professional conduct requires expressing disagreement constructively through legitimate channels rather than unilateral noncompliance.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a conflict of interest that a teacher must disclose to administration?
- Having a student who is a neighbor's child in class
- Privately tutoring a student for pay while also teaching and grading that student (Correct answer)
- Knowing a student's parents socially before the school year
- Teaching a subject the teacher has a personal passion for
Correct answer: Privately tutoring a student for pay while also teaching and grading that student
Paid private tutoring of one's own students creates a financial conflict of interest that affects objectivity in grading.
Question 4: A teacher uses copyrighted materials from a textbook publisher by photocopying entire chapters for students without permission. This is:
- Acceptable because it supports student learning
- A violation of copyright law even if done for educational purposes (Correct answer)
- Allowed under fair use if limited to one class
- Permitted when the school cannot afford the textbooks
Correct answer: A violation of copyright law even if done for educational purposes
Copying entire chapters exceeds fair use guidelines and constitutes copyright infringement regardless of educational intent.
Question 5: A student confides that they are experiencing bullying by peers but asks the teacher to keep it secret. The teacher should:
- Promise confidentiality to maintain the student's trust
- Acknowledge the student's courage, explain limits of confidentiality, and report to the counselor (Correct answer)
- Tell the bullies to stop without involving any other staff
- Monitor the situation for a week before involving others
Correct answer: Acknowledge the student's courage, explain limits of confidentiality, and report to the counselor
Teachers must address bullying for student safety while being transparent with students about the limits of confidentiality.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a teacher maintaining professional integrity in assessment?
- Adjusting grades upward for students who participated actively in class
- Applying the same rubric consistently to all student work regardless of personal feelings (Correct answer)
- Allowing students to retake tests only if their parents request it
- Grading more leniently near the end of the semester to boost class averages
Correct answer: Applying the same rubric consistently to all student work regardless of personal feelings
Professional integrity in assessment requires consistent, objective application of criteria to all student work.
Question 7: A teacher is aware that a colleague frequently belittles students in class. What is the ethical obligation?
- Say nothing because it is not their classroom
- Document observations and report the behavior to administration (Correct answer)
- Speak to the students involved and advise them to ignore it
- Warn the colleague informally and take no further action if it continues
Correct answer: Document observations and report the behavior to administration
Ethical codes require teachers to advocate for student welfare, including reporting colleague conduct that harms students.
ATSW Professionalism & Ethical Practices in Teaching 3
A teacher is offered a gift card worth $75 from a parent who wants their child to receive extra tutoring attention.
The teacher should: