A Brainstorm about Ethical Conduct of Early Childhood Education

               As I am a “preschool teacher” student, I think, I don’t have enough proof to tell something about ethic of early childhood education. However, as I am a young adult, I will try to make a brainstorm about the code of ethical conduct and statement thanks to my readings, observations in my stage classroom, my own thoughts, and my poor life experiences.

               As a small and general beginning, I can say that preschool teachers should embody the values of a code of ethics, because they have the responsibility of developing the minds and characters of young children. Why such a code of conduct would be needed in preschools may be an argumentative topic. If I think about the possible answers of this question, I will say that:

o  Firstly, ethical terms are needed in almost every field because it assists about coming of discipline and discipline helps about gaining of a well organization of the works and without a well-done organization, the missions cannot be done in a sufficient and professional way. From a general view, because of these reasons, the code of ethic would be needed in preschools, too, to reach the best.

o  Secondly, an educator should have a code of ethics to protect children from abuse because teachers may occupy strong positions of power over their students in early childhood. In my stage class, there is a child: Dorukcan. He has some inappropriate behaviors such as hitting others (both teachers and children), not being able to focus on a work, not understanding what his teacher is saying even she repeats what she is saying 3 or 4 times. When these events become again and again, it will be difficult to manage teacher’s control in terms of being not angry. Dorukcan's teachers are trying to have the maximum patient to Dorukcan. Even they try to become patient; they get angry because they are also human beings. However they never harm his thanks to their code of ethic.

o  Thirdly, a preschool child will look to his teacher for clues to his own self-worth, so a teacher should have a code of ethics that she always monitors her interactions with students to ensure that children are never embarrassed.

o  Also a child looks to his/her teacher to defend fairness and equity, particularly in situations in which there is bullying. A code of ethics demands that a teacher treats all students equally, without favoritism, and strive to maintain an atmosphere of safety and mutual respect in the classroom. For instance, in my stage class when one of the teachers kisses one of the students, after, she kisses another child and then another one so children will feel “we are equal in our teacher’s eye.”

o  Furthermore teachers are entrusted with a great deal of personal information regarding their students, from performance on test scores to issues relating to family background. A teacher should always maintain a professional level of confidentiality regarding student records, protecting the dignity and privacy of these young charges and for all these things, a teacher needs to a code of ethic.

               After my short brain storm, now I want to analyze my observation notes according to ideals and principles of NAEYC (2005) and DAP (Bredekamp & Copple, 2005). Before doing it, it will be useful that focusing on the meanings of “value”, “ideal”, and “principle” and how these concepts are related to each other. The meanings of these three terms are rather close to each other but not same. I think, whereas ideal refers to determined “target” to become the best in an area, principle refers to a tool which helps us to specify “shape” of this “target” and value refers to an assistant which determines how much size and what color of this “shape” will become. It is just like something group in group, I think.

               It will be a ideal that to recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child (NAEYC, 2005).  In my stage class, Dorukcan (about whom I have just written in the first page) is not able to do everything which his friends can do easily. His teachers never make “his works, and behaviors must become equal with his friends.” a condition because they recognize his quality, ability, and potential and they respect them.