Page 8 - Inquiring into the Ethical Dimensions of Professional Practice

Vignettes from Practice: Vignette 1: Rocking the Boat
As an administrator at the school I became aware of a situation where another administrator made an unjust decision impacting one of the teachers on staff. The administrative team was already on shaky ground as it had been a tough year filled with many serious issues and events. I feared that bringing up this situation would only further “rock the boat”. I wondered if I should remain loyal to the administrative team and not mention the situation or risk more conflict with the administrative team for the greater good of the teacher who had been unjustly treated in the situation.
Ethical Inquiry Cycle
Ethical Inquiry Dialogic Process
After reading the vignette, educators are invited to engage in critical reflection and dialogue related to the following ethical inquiry process:
1. Experience: Identify the ethical challenge(s), issue(s) or dimensions inherent within this vignette.
2. Reflection: Critically reflect on the underlying values or assumptions that are influencing the professional practices in this vignette.
3. Critical Analysis: Critically analyze this vignette through the ethics of Care, Respect, Trust and Integrity.
4. New Perspectives and Insights: Identify new insights or understandings have been gained from reading this vignette?
Ethical Knowledge and Action
Generate suggestions for enhancing the ethical awareness, sensitivity and ethical efficacy of the educators in this vignette?
6 Ontario College of Teachers