FOR KIZANGILA

“The educator, believing in the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizes the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurture of democratic principles” (Code of Ethics of the Tennessee Education Association, Preamble). The Teachers Code of Ethics is one of the highly revered codes made to follow by every teachers, and should not be violated at all cost. Sometimes, there tends to be those who do not follow it, and from there rises different kinds of problems that poses a threat to Education. Teachers are the foundation of every student's education; however misbehavior, social misconduct, and criminal acts from bad teachers can change a student's idea of schooling into a nightmare.

How can a teacher be called a bad teacher and why is it not safe for students to be lead and governed by these so-called “bad teachers”? There are numerous ways for teachers to be considered as bad and we are not just talking about committing crimes like sexual molestation, robbery, drug pushing and other things that we commonly see on news. A teacher’s discipline can also be considered as a tool to use in knowing if they are a role model teacher of the society or a bad example for students not to follow in their future career. “Ineffective faculty are a drag on colleagues and hold back the development of students” (‘Eric Hanushek, “Does Tenure Protect Bad Teachers or Good Schools?”). Clearly, teachers have a lingering effect on the effectiveness of an educational institution over their students.

There are so many issues of teacher failing their profession and their students: misbehavior, social misconduct, and criminal acts and of them are not good for the students. News like “"A 24-year-old high school math teacher is accused of having sexual contact with two students in her classroom and exchanging inappropriate texts and nude photos" (McCormack 1); a Pennsylvania university dismissed professor fired and charged of sex assault (Buxton 1) and many others found and seen in the daily news. This are bad not just because they distraught students and parents alike, but also because they contaminate and corrupt the aim and honor of education. One important factor too is that education’s main purpose is to teach, and to make the students learn. If the teachers who are responsible for teaching is not just and corrupt, then we fear of what the students will learn from them.

In her study, Sara Banfield gave four kinds of teachers and those are: “Good Teacher” (67), “Incompetent Teacher” (71), “Indolent Teacher” (74) and “Offensive Teacher” (78). In her studies, she found out that "there has been a significant difference in academic self-efficacy between good teachers and indolent teachers" (46). She stated that good teachers "asked for examples, encouraged participation of students, and sought feedback from students, thus engaging the students during the lecture” (46). Therefore, it is only evident that there can be a good correlation between the behaviors of teachers to their student’s learning experiences.

All in all, the teachers are supposed to be a role model of the society. A teacher is a representation of every academic institution. They are expected to do what their profession requires and to uphold their duty as a teacher in all times that is possible. That is why we find it unacceptable whenever we hear them misbehaving, and worse committing serious, unforgivable crime. Teachers must be vigilant and watchful of their fellow teachers. For society to remain trustful with what the education system can offer to all our students, teachers must be the first to be the role model of good in all times.

Works Cited

Buxton, Ryan. "Fired Professor Robert Ammon Jr. Rightfully Terminated After Sexual Harassment, Court Finds." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 June 2013. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11/professor-robert-ammon-jr-fired-sexual-harassment_n_3421700.html>.

"Code of Ethics." TEA Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.teateachers.org/teaching-tennessee/active-teachers/code-ethics>.

Hanushek, Eric. "Does Tenure Protect Bad Teachers or Good Schools?." The New York Times. N.p., 11 June 2014. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/06/11/does-tenure-protect-bad-teachers-or-good-schools?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar>.

McCormack, Simon. "Teacher Meredith Powell Allegedly Had Sex With Students." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 June 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/10/teacher-meredith-powell_n_4760537.html>.

Banfield, Sara R. "How do college/university Teacher Misbehaviors Influence Student Cognitive Learning, Academic Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Curiosity?" Order No. 3407571 West Virginia University, 2009. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 23 June 2014.