Selective Test Professional Ethics in Education 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher discovers that a student has been copying homework from a classmate. What is the most ethically appropriate first response?
- Ignore it since homework is low-stakes
- Speak privately with both students to understand the situation (Correct answer)
- Immediately call the parents of both students
- Give both students failing grades without discussion
Correct answer: Speak privately with both students to understand the situation
A private conversation allows the teacher to gather facts and address the issue fairly before taking further action.
Question 2: Which principle best describes a teacher's duty to treat all students equitably regardless of background?
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Justice (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
Correct answer: Justice
Justice in education ethics means providing fair treatment and equitable opportunities to every student.
Question 3: A school counselor learns from a student that the student's parent is struggling with addiction. What should the counselor do first?
- Immediately report it to child protective services
- Consult the school's policies and assess whether a mandated report is required (Correct answer)
- Tell the student's teacher so they can watch for behavioral changes
- Contact the parent directly to discuss the issue
Correct answer: Consult the school's policies and assess whether a mandated report is required
Counselors must follow legal mandated reporter guidelines and school policy before taking action.
Question 4: An educator is offered an expensive gift by a parent whose child recently received a poor grade. The most ethical response is to:
- Accept it as a sign of goodwill
- Accept it but disclose it to the principal
- Decline and explain the school's gift policy (Correct answer)
- Decline without offering any explanation
Correct answer: Decline and explain the school's gift policy
Declining and explaining policy avoids any conflict of interest while maintaining transparency.
Question 5: When a teacher posts a general classroom photo on social media without showing student faces, this is:
- Always a FERPA violation
- Generally acceptable but should follow school policy (Correct answer)
- Prohibited under all circumstances
- Only acceptable with written parental consent for each post
Correct answer: Generally acceptable but should follow school policy
Photos that do not identify students are generally lower risk, but teachers should still follow district social media policies.
Question 6: Professional ethics requires educators to maintain competence in their subject area. This obligation is best described as:
- Confidentiality
- Continuing professional development (Correct answer)
- Academic freedom
- Informed consent
Correct answer: Continuing professional development
Educators have an ethical duty to keep their knowledge and skills current through ongoing learning.
Question 7: A student with an IEP requires extended time on tests. A teacher who refuses to provide this accommodation is:
- Exercising academic freedom
- Violating both ethical standards and federal law (Correct answer)
- Protecting the integrity of the assessment
- Acting within their professional discretion
Correct answer: Violating both ethical standards and federal law
Refusing to honor IEP accommodations violates IDEA and constitutes unethical denial of equitable access.
Selective Test Professional Ethics in Education 2
A teacher discovers that a student has been copying homework from a classmate.
What is the most ethically appropriate first response?