LANTITE Professional Ethics in Education 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher uses social media to post a photo of a student's exceptional artwork without obtaining permission. Which ethical principle has been violated?
- Professional learning
- Student privacy and informed consent (Correct answer)
- Curriculum delivery
- Collegial respect
Correct answer: Student privacy and informed consent
Sharing identifiable student work or images online without consent violates the student's privacy rights and requires informed consent.
Question 2: Which best describes the ethical obligation of a teacher regarding their own professional development?
- Completing the minimum required training to maintain registration
- Continuously engaging in learning to improve practice and stay current (Correct answer)
- Attending only training sessions mandated by the school
- Focusing professional learning solely on their teaching subject area
Correct answer: Continuously engaging in learning to improve practice and stay current
Ethical teachers commit to ongoing professional learning to continuously improve their competence and effectiveness for students.
Question 3: A parent asks a teacher to give their child a higher grade than they earned to help with a scholarship application. The ethically correct response is to:
- Adjust the grade as a goodwill gesture
- Explain that grades must accurately reflect the student's performance (Correct answer)
- Consult the principal before deciding
- Offer additional assessment opportunities to all students
Correct answer: Explain that grades must accurately reflect the student's performance
Assessment integrity requires that grades accurately represent student achievement and cannot be falsified to serve external interests.
Question 4: Which of the following actions by a teacher best demonstrates the ethical principle of non-discrimination?
- Treating every student identically regardless of individual needs
- Providing equitable support tailored to each student's circumstances (Correct answer)
- Focusing additional resources on high-achieving students
- Following the same lesson plan for all classes without adjustment
Correct answer: Providing equitable support tailored to each student's circumstances
Non-discrimination means ensuring all students receive the equitable support they need, which may differ based on individual circumstances.
Question 5: A teacher suspects a student may be radicalised. What is the most appropriate professional response?
- Challenge the student's beliefs directly in class to deter others
- Report concerns to the principal and follow the school's safeguarding protocol (Correct answer)
- Contact law enforcement directly without informing school leadership
- Ignore the concern unless the student makes an explicit threat
Correct answer: Report concerns to the principal and follow the school's safeguarding protocol
Concerns about radicalisation should be reported to school leadership and addressed through the school's established safeguarding procedures.
Question 6: In the context of professional ethics, what does 'informed consent' mean when conducting research involving students?
- Students agreeing verbally to participate in any school activity
- Participants receiving clear information about the research and agreeing to take part voluntarily (Correct answer)
- The principal approving a research project on behalf of all students
- Students signing a form regardless of whether they understand its contents
Correct answer: Participants receiving clear information about the research and agreeing to take part voluntarily
Informed consent requires that participants understand the nature, purpose, and implications of research before voluntarily agreeing to participate.
Question 7: A teacher overhears another staff member making racially offensive comments about a student. The most professionally ethical action is to:
- Avoid the situation to prevent conflict
- Report the incident to the principal or relevant authority (Correct answer)
- Discuss the incident with colleagues to gauge their opinion
- Warn the staff member privately without any formal record
Correct answer: Report the incident to the principal or relevant authority
Teachers have a professional obligation to report discriminatory behaviour by colleagues to protect students and uphold institutional integrity.
LANTITE Professional Ethics in Education 3
A teacher uses social media to post a photo of a student's exceptional artwork without obtaining permission.
Which ethical principle has been violated?