Ethics in Education

(Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of

Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida)

1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to

excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential

to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the

guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential.

Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best

professional judgment and integrity.

3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning

and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.

b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.

c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.

d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's

academic program.

e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or

disparagement.

f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.

g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion,

sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping

condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make

reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or

discrimination.

h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.

i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of

professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by

law.

4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of

students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest

degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.

b. Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin,

political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social

and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or

participation in any professional organization.

c. Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and

responsibilities.

d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably

interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with

the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive,

offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure

that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.

e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and

administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these

standards of ethical conduct.

Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators All employees,

educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct

by instructional personnel and school administrators, which affects the health, safety, or

welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol

use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing

violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors. Reports of misconduct of

employees should be made to Mary Kirby, Assistant Director, 850-832-4807

Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to

Angela Seaton, Director, 850-276-5553. Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct

by Florida certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices

Services. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or

school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted on

wall in entry hall. and on our Web site at h ttps://squarepegslearningcenter.com/ethictraining-

%26-reporting

Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an

affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or

neglect. Call 1-800- 96-ABUSE or report online at:

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

Signs of Physical Abuse The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other

injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem

withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from

physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

Signs of Sexual Abuse The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble

walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A

child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively,

fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy

away from physical contact, or run away from home.

Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at

home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be

frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a

single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious

indicator and should be reported.

Liability Protections Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution

participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good

faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law

enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might

otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a

prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective

employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such

disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that

the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or

violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter

760. (F.S. 768.095)