Observation, Discussion, and Reflection on Ethical Issues: Code of Ethics and Case Studies
In this assignment, you will research and become familiar with codes of ethics that guide your work as an educator. To complete the assignment, you will determine the appropriate and legal courses of action in response to three case studies.
1. To begin this assignment, read the following 3 Codes of Ethics’ documents from the specified associations/organizations below. Summarize the main legal and ethical components from each of the codes in a brief, but the informative narrative that includes a discussion of the following focal questions (FPEC 6.1, 6.2/InTASC 9f.p, 9j.k, 9o.d):
· Who or what is the educator’s/school counselor’s primary concern?
· How can the school counselor strive to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct?
· What are the types of behaviors (e.g., bullying, child abuse, etc.) that the school counselor should report to administration?
· What are the reasons for the suspension of a professional?
a. National – National Education Association: NEA: Code of Ethics of the Education Profession (https://www.nea.org/resource-library/code-ethics-educators
(Links to an external site.)
)
b. State (choose one): Florida’s Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/professional-practices/code-of-ethics-principles-of-professio.stml
(Links to an external site.)
Florida’s Office of Professional Practices FAQ for Educators – Florida DOE Process for Florida – Office of Professional Practices FAQ for Educators – Florida DOE Process for Responding to Disciplinary Action http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/FAQ.asp
(Links to an external site.)
c. Professional Code of Ethics: American School Counselor Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
Make sure that you reference specific codes from EACH of the three codes of ethics (national, state, and ASCA in all your answers).
2. Review and respond to the following three case studies within the context of the codes of ethics. Your responses to each case study must cite within your text and reference at the end of your work the articles provided in the links below the 3 codes of ethics. Your responses must be thorough and of high quality. You will be expected to describe an appropriate plan of action to correct the behavior described in the case study and provide additional plans of action based on the codes of ethics as well as the articles read.
Case Study 1 (FPEC 6.1, 6.3/InTASC 9f.p, 9j.k, 9o.d):
You are a new elementary school counselor and notice that one of your students consistently comes to school in the morning with dirty clothes, body odor, and suspicious bruises on his arms. According to the codes of ethics and district faculty policies, what should be your plan of action for addressing this issue?
Florida Department of Education, Office of Professional Practices Reporting Misconduct and Abuse http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/poster.asp
(Links to an external site.)
The 2018 Florida Statutes
K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1006 , Support For Learning
1006.061 Child abuse, abandonment, and neglect policy.
https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2018/1006.061
(Links to an external site.)
Florida Statute Chapter 39, Proceedings Relating to Children
39.201 Mandatory reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; mandatory reports of
death; central abuse hotline (Mandated Reporters of child abuse as defined by Florida Statute
39.201)
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0039/Sections/0039.201.html
(Links to an external site.)
https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/a-child-abuse-reporting-framework-for-early-career-school-counselors/
(Links to an external site.)
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/school-counselors-reporting-child-neglect-45569
(Links to an external site.)
Case Study 2 (FPEC 6.1, 6.5/InTASC 9f.p, 9j.k, 9o.d):
You have decided to create a Facebook page for your high school counseling program to communicate important information about application deadlines, college visits, and other crucial counseling-related information.
i.What are some safeguards you should take into consideration to ensure the appropriate use of this Facebook page?
ii. What should you do if a student or a parent requests you as a friend on your personal, private Facebook page? How can you increase privacy settings so parents and students do not see your personal Facebook account information?
iii. What should you do if you come across a student being bullied on Facebook?
https://tpcjournal.nbcc.org/millennial-counselors-and-the-ethical-use-of-facebook/
(Links to an external site.)
Broward County, Florida
Policy 5306 – School and Technology Usage
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/sbbcpolicies/docs/P5306,000.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
Miami Dade County, Florida
Policy 7540.01 – Staff Network & Internet Acceptable Use & Safety
http://schoolartifacts.dadeschools.net/Standard%204%20Early%20Learning/4.15/School%20Board%20Policy%207540.01-Technology%20Privacy.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
Palm Beach County, Florida
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/palmbeach/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AA5LDZ53DBF5
(Links to an external site.)
Case Study 3 (FPEC 6.1, 6.5/InTASC 9f.p, 9j.k, 9o.d):
As a new middle school counselor, you have taken over a small group counseling unit for girls who have difficulties getting along with their female peers and engage in bullying behaviors. Most of the students have low-grade point averages, so one of the goals of the group is to raise their academic standing so they can be promoted to the next grade.
a. The principal tells you that the previous school counselor gave a weekly report on the students’ issues in the group. You are aware that this could create problems with confidentiality and trust. What is your professional plan of action in this situation?
b. One of the parents of the students in the group wants to know what kinds of things her daughter has been telling you in the group. What should you do?
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Florida Department of Health and Human Resources) http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7674/urlt/0064538-ferpa.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/ethics/ethics-columns/ethics_october-2017_minor-privacy.pdf?sfvrsn=a25522c_6
(Links to an external site.)
Broward County, Florida
https://www.browardschools.com/cms/lib/FL01803656/Centricity/Domain/13933/FERPA%20Notice%202019-20.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
Student Records: Confidentiality and Family Educational Rights
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/sbbcpolicies/docs/P5100.1.000.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
http://outreach.dadeschools.net/Handbook/4.15__Student__Records.pdf
(Links to an external site.)
Palm Beach County, Florida Policy 5.50 – Student Records
https://go.boarddocs.com/fl/palmbeach/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ALJKV252F341
(Links to an external site.)
3. Reflect on the application of each case study to your school responsibilities. What must you do to avoid these types of professional and ethical conflicts in the future? (InTASC 9e.p, 9i.k, 9m.d)
4. Identify and describe three additional resources to use by school counselors who wish to avoid professional and ethical conflicts (InTASC 9e.p, 9i.k, 9m.d). Do not use any of the same articles listed above, and do not use your textbook. These can be professional websites, ethical resources from ASCA, or professional books/articles.
5. Based on your analysis of the information found on the FL DOE website (http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/FAQ.asp
(Links to an external site.)
), describe the consequences of teachers’ and school counselors’ unethical practices (FPEC 6.2/InTASC 9o.d).
Additional details on completing this assignment can be found in the rubric below.
Students must receive at least 70% to receive a passing grade. A student who scores less than 70% of the grade on the assignment must complete an Individual Remediation Plan with the instructor. Failure to successfully remediate the assignment will result in an F (Fail) grade in the course.
The candidate read, summarized, and demonstrated use of the national, state, and professional codes of ethics.
The candidate described the case study within the context of the codes of ethics and frequently demonstrated ethical behavior.
The candidate described an appropriate plan of action to correct the behavior described in the case study and provided additional plans of action.
The candidate responded
correctly to the focal questions, giving appropriate references and/or examples demonstrating a clear understanding of state’s
policy on ethical conduct.
The candidate proposed and demonstrated activities that will prevent this type of behavior.
The candidate identified and referenced more than three professional resources on ethics.
The candidate described the consequences (e.g., potential loss of job, fine, etc.) of the educators’ unethical practices based on the state’s policy on ethical conduct, providing appropriate references and examples.
