GLA Professional Ethics in Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher suspects a student is being abused at home but is not completely certain. The teacher should:
- Wait until more evidence appears before reporting
- Report the suspicion to child protective services, as mandated reporters do not need certainty (Correct answer)
- Speak to the student's parents first to gather more information
- Consult with other teachers informally to see if they have noticed anything
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services, as mandated reporters do not need certainty
Mandated reporters are required to report reasonable suspicions of abuse — they are not investigators and do not need proof before reporting.
Question 2: What does the ethical principle of 'non-maleficence' mean in an educational context?
- Educators must always act in students' best academic interest
- Educators must avoid actions that could harm students physically, emotionally, or academically (Correct answer)
- Educators must disclose any personal conflicts of interest
- Educators must treat all students equally regardless of ability
Correct answer: Educators must avoid actions that could harm students physically, emotionally, or academically
Non-maleficence means 'do no harm,' requiring educators to avoid decisions or actions that could injure or damage the students they serve.
Question 3: An educator shares a student's learning disability diagnosis with a classroom aide who does not work directly with that student. This action:
- Is acceptable since all school staff share a duty of care
- Violates student privacy because the aide has no educational need for the information (Correct answer)
- Is required by IDEA to ensure student support
- Is acceptable as long as the parent was previously notified
Correct answer: Violates student privacy because the aide has no educational need for the information
Student information should only be shared on a need-to-know basis with staff who directly serve that student's educational needs.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'professional boundaries' in education?
- Limiting the amount of feedback given to students
- Maintaining appropriate personal and emotional limits in relationships with students (Correct answer)
- Avoiding any informal conversation with students outside of instruction
- Restricting communication with parents to formal written notices only
Correct answer: Maintaining appropriate personal and emotional limits in relationships with students
Professional boundaries ensure that educator-student relationships remain appropriate, with clear limits that protect both parties.
Question 5: A teacher realizes they made a significant grading error that unfairly lowered a student's grade. What is the ethical response?
- Leave the grade unchanged to avoid administrative paperwork
- Correct the grade and inform the student and parent promptly (Correct answer)
- Offer the student extra credit to compensate without admitting the error
- Average the incorrect grade with future grades to normalize the impact
Correct answer: Correct the grade and inform the student and parent promptly
Honesty and accountability require educators to correct errors transparently and communicate the change to affected parties.
Question 6: When a student shares personal struggles with a teacher, the teacher's primary ethical responsibility is to:
- Share the information with all school staff to coordinate support
- Listen supportively, maintain appropriate confidentiality, and connect the student to professional resources (Correct answer)
- Keep the information entirely private and provide all support personally
- Document the conversation and place it in the student's permanent record
Correct answer: Listen supportively, maintain appropriate confidentiality, and connect the student to professional resources
Educators should respond empathetically while recognizing the limits of their role and connecting students to appropriate professional support.
Question 7: Which practice best upholds academic integrity in a classroom?
- Allowing students to retake tests without consequences to reduce anxiety
- Designing assessments that make plagiarism and cheating difficult (Correct answer)
- Grading all students on the same curve regardless of effort
- Permitting collaboration on all assignments to promote teamwork
Correct answer: Designing assessments that make plagiarism and cheating difficult
Proactively designing assessments that require original thinking reduces opportunities for academic dishonesty and upholds integrity.
GLA Professional Ethics in Education 3
A teacher suspects a student is being abused at home but is not completely certain.
The teacher should: