Section 2.
4
Ethics
Pretest
For each item, write the letter of the correct answer on the space provided before the item
number.
_d_1. A teacher informed a child’s parents that their son did not do well in the performance
assessments. To prove her point, she showed their son’s grades the scores obtained by their son’s
classmate. What ethical issue is evident in this case?
a. Comprehensiveness
b. Confidentiality
c. Fairness
d. Transparency
_b_2. A Grade 7 Science teacher grouped the students for an oral presentation about mitigation
and disaster risk reduction. She forgot to discuss to the class how they shall be graded. What
ethical concern did the teacher fail to consider?
a. Confidentiality
b. Fairness
c. Relevance
d. Transparency
_c_3. The teacher reported that Janna and slow and sloppy learner. What is wrong with the
teacher’s evaluation?
a. Irrelevant
b. Offensive
c. Stereotyping
d. Unfair penalization
_a_4. What section in the article VIII of the Code of Ethics for Teachers that state “A teacher
shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concern, and
shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them?
a. Section 1
b. Section 2
c. Section 4
d. Section 8
_c_5. It is the Section 6 in the Article VIII of the Code of ethics for Teachers.
a. Under no circumstances shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against a learner.
b. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials other
than what is authorized for such service.
c. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of
academic performance.
d. A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of
learners are adequate, and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving
learner’s problems and difficulties.
Suggested Activities
ACTIVITY 1: ASSESSMENT SCENARIOS
Suppose you are the principal of a public high school. You received complaint from students
concerning their test. Based on their complaint, you decided to talk to the teachers concerned and
offered advice based on ethical standards. Write down your recommendations citing specific
aspects of ethics or fairness discussed in this chapter.
Scenario 1: Eight-grade students complained that their music teacher uses only written test as
the sole method of assessment. They were not assessed on their skills in singing or creating
musical melodies.
Explanation:
The teacher should have let the students perform to assess their skills not only the
cognitive but also the psychomotor domain as well as the affective. With that,
opportunity to learn would be presented to the students.
Scenario 2: Grade 7 students complained that they were not informed that there is a summative
test in Algebra.
Explanation:
As a teacher, he/she must let the students know the coverage of the test to be given for
them to be prepared and it is their rights to know as supported with the students’
knowledge of learning targets and assessment as one of the aspects of ethics or fairness in
assessment.
Scenario 3: Grade 7 students complained that they were not told what to study for the mastery
test. They were told to study and prepare for the test.
Explanation:
Students must be informed regarding the assessment details for them to prepare and
recognize the importance of assessment which is under the students’ knowledge of
learning targets and assessments as the aspects of ethics or fairness.
Scenario 4: Grade 9 students complained that there were questions in their Science test on the
last unit which was not discussed in class.
Explanation:
Students must possess skills and background knowledge of what topic to be assess
because they might perform poorly in the assessment and it is unfair to them because they
were assessed with something they don’t know about. This recommendation is supported
with the prerequisite knowledge and skills under the aspects of ethics or fairness in
assessment.
Scenario 5: Grade 9 students studied for a long test covering the following topics: Motion in two
dimensions; Mechanical Energy; Heat, Work and Efficiency; and Electricity and Magnetism.
The teacher prepared several questions on the first topic. Hence students complained that most of
what they studied did not turn up in the test.
Explanation:
The teacher must equally obtain question from the different topics she wants to assess to
avoid bias, this is supported with the ethics, avoiding bias in assessment tasks and
procedures.
Scenario 6: Students complained that they had difficulty with the test because they prepared by
memorizing the content.
Explanation:
The student must know the content of the assessment or the coverage of the assessment
for them to equipped with the intended knowledge to be assess of. In the case, students
were not able to learn effectively as they were confused on what topic to be assessed of
so they just simply memorize all the content which could affect their assessment
performance as not all students have a good memory as supported with the aspect of
ethics, students’ knowledge of learning targets and assessment.
Scenario 7: Students were test on an article they read about Filipino ethnic groups. The article
depicted Ilocanos as stingy. Students who hail from Ilocos were not comfortable answering the
test.
Explanation:
As a teacher, one must be sensitive in any assessment he/she will introduce to the class,
considering their possible emotions if they engage into that assessment. A teacher must
be open-minded as students can be diverse in culture, tradition, religion and many more
factors to consider as this act follows ethics, avoiding stereotyping.
ACTIVITY 2: DO’S AND DON’T’S
Suppose you are a firm teacher especially when it comes to ethics in assessment. You would like
to observe correct conduct prior, during and after a test. Write down five DO’s and DON’T’s for
each phase of testing.
Before the test During the test After the test
DO’s DO’s DO’s
Do make schedule and Do encourage Do check the answers
provide the students to avoid thoroughly.
appropriate amount of cheating. Do encourage the
time needed for the Do remind students to student who did not
assessment. ask question about the pass the test to take
Do announce the instruction in the test removal test.
coverage of the test. only to the teacher Do consider answers
Do conduct a short and not with his/her of the student with the
review of the topic the classmates. same idea of the
day before the exam. Do actively supervise correct answer.
Do make a Table of the students’ action if Do explain why the
Specifications to they are cheating or student got wrong
identify the content of not. with the particular
the test as well as to Do announce the item of the test.
address the desired remaining time to Do motivate students
learning outcome. answer the test. who pass to continue
Do encourage Do consider giving studying hard and to
students to prepare time extensions. those who fail to
and motivates them strive harder next
study hard. time.
DON’T’s DON’T’s
Don’t cram ten topics Don’t leave the DON’T’s
into one test. classroom unless it’s Do not change
Don’t provide test emergency. students answer just to
questions to the Don’t let the only let them pass the test.
students. student who ask Do not discriminate
Don’t teach student a questions to know the students according
mistake. Be accurate explanation, clarify their score attainment.
instead. this issue with the Do not leave any
Don’t give more whole class. items of the test
assignment which is Don’t give a hint that unexplained for better
to be passed on the will make the students learning if necessary,
day of the test as this change their answers. to be explain.
might distract their Don’t give bias Do not discourage
study. attention to students. students who fail the
Don’t give students Don’t discuss test instead encourage
unclear instructions. irrelevant information them to do better next
to the class other than time.
about the test for them Do not be biased in
to be focus in checking the answers.
answering.
ACTIVITY 3: CASE ANALYSIS
Article VIII of the Code of Ethics for Teachers (Resolution No. 435, s. 1997) contain ethical
standards in relation with students. These standards are benchmarks to ensure that teachers
observe fairness, justice and equity in all phases of the teaching-learning cycle.
Article VIII: The Teacher and Learners
Section 1: A teacher has a right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotion
of learners in the subject or grades he handles, provided that such determination shall be in
accordance with generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurement. In case of any
complaint, teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, observing due
process.
Section 2: A teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and
foremost concern, and shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them.
Section 3: Under no circumstances shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against a
learner.
Section 4: A teacher shall not accept favors or gifts from learners, their parents or others in
their behalf in exchange for requested concessions, especially if undeserved.
Section 5: A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials
other than what is authorized for such service.
Section 6: A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of
academic performance.
Section 7: In a situation where mutual attraction and subsequent love develop between teacher
and learner, the teacher shall exercise utmost professional discretion to avoid scandal, gossip
and preferential treatment of the learner.
Section 8: A teacher shall not inflict corporal punishment on offending learnings nor make
deductions from their scholastics ratings as a punishment for acts which are clearly not
manifestations of poor scholarships.
Section 9: A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of
learners are adequate and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving learner’s
problems and difficulties.
For each of the following, explain why the teacher’s action is deemed as unethical. Moreover,
cite a section of the Code of Ethics that was violated to support your answer.
1. A Social Studies teacher gave an essay asking students to suggest ways to improve the quality
of education in the country. The teacher simply scanned students’ answers and many of the
students received the same score.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because he/she just simply scanned the
students’ answer and take note many of them received the same score. The teacher did
not properly do his/her job which is to improve student’s output as he did not thoroughly
evaluate the output. He/she violated the Section 1 of the Article VIII of the Code of
Ethics for Teachers which states that a teacher has a right and duty to determine the
academic marks and the promotions of learners in the subjects or grades he handles,
provided that such determination shall be in accordance with generally accepted
procedures of evaluation and measurement. In any case or complaint, teachers shall
immediately take appropriate actions, observing due process.
2. A Grade 4 Technology and Livelihood Education teacher did not allot sufficient time in
teaching animal care, but instead focused on gardening, a topic which he like the most.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical as he did not consider the interest of the
students, he prioritized the topic he likes the most or comfortable to discuss to the
students. In Article VIII of the Code of Ethics, Section 2 which states that a teacher shall
recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concern, and
shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them thus it is the responsibility of the
teacher to prioritize the welfare and interest of the learners.
3. The teacher uses stigmatizing descriptions for students who are not able to answer teacher’s
questions during an initiation-response-evaluation/recitation.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because the teacher discriminates the students
who were not able to answer his/her questions. As a teacher, it is a must to manifest an
environment free from discrimination in the four-corner of the room considering the
possible problem the students have since he/she is performing poorly in the class as well
as understanding the fact that students consist of different skills and excel in different
aspects.
4. A grade school teacher deducted five points from a student’s test score for the misdemeanor in
class.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because deducting points from a student’s
test score due to his action violated the Article VIII of the Codes of Ethics, Section 8
which states that a teacher shall not inflict corporal punishment on offending learnings
nor make deductions from their scholastics ratings as a punishment for acts which are
clearly not manifestations of poor scholarships.
5. The teacher gave additional points to students who bought tickets for the school play which
was declared to be optional.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because she is bribing the students to bought
tickets in exchange of additional points given so as a student who wants to have high
grade, he/she will take the bait of the teacher even though it is optional, the students will
be force to comply. Clearly, the points didn’t reflect the academic performance. The
teacher violated the Article VIII of the Codes of Ethics, Section 6 which states that a
teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of
academic performance.
6. Some students received an “incomplete” in the performance task due to absences or other
reasons. The teacher told them to acquire book instead in lieu of the performance assessment.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because she did not let the students who were
absent during the performance assessment to perform the task instead just let them
acquire a book. The teacher violated Article VIII of the Codes of Ethics, Section 9 which
states teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of
learners are adequate and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving
learner’s problems and difficulties.
7. A student approached the teacher during the summative test in Mathematics to ask about a test
item. The teacher developed the test item and clarified the test question.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because he/she is biased to the class as he/she
developed and clarified the test question for the student who approached him/her to
answer it correctly. The teacher violated the Article VIII of the Codes of Ethics, Section 3
which states that under no circumstances shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate
against a learner.
8. The teacher excused foreign students from participating in the Linggo ng Wika program.
Explanation:
The teacher’s action is deemed as unethical because he/she excused foreign students from
participating in Linggo ng Wika program which is a part of the school activity which can
allow the foreign students to learn more about the culture of the Philippines yet the
teacher did not recognize the importance of this activity. The teacher violated the Article
VIII of the Codes of Ethics, Section 2 which states that a teacher shall recognize that the
interest and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concern, and shall deal
justifiably and impartially with each of them.
Posttest
_b__1. A teacher informed a child’s parents that their son did not do well in the performance
assessments. To prove her point, she showed their son’s grades the scores obtained by their son’s
classmate. What ethical issue is evident in this case?
a. Comprehensiveness
b. Confidentiality
c. Fairness
d. Transparency
_b__2. A Grade 7 Science teacher grouped the students for an oral presentation about mitigation
and disaster risk reduction. She forgot to discuss to the class how they shall be graded. What
ethical concern did the teacher fail to consider?
a. Confidentiality
b. Fairness
c. Relevance
d. Transparency
__c_3. The teacher reported that Janna and slow and sloppy learner. What is wrong with the
teacher’s evaluation?
a. Irrelevant
b. Offensive
c. Stereotyping
d. Unfair penalization
__b_4. What section in the article VIII of the Code of Ethics for Teachers that state “A teacher
shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concern, and
shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them?
a. Section 1
b. Section 2
c. Section 4
d. Section 8
__c_5. It is the Section 6 in the Article VIII of the Code of ethics for Teachers.
a. Under no circumstances shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against a learner.
b. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials other
than what is authorized for such service.
c. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of
academic performance.
d. A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of
learners are adequate, and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving
learner’s problems and difficulties.
