Surprising Code of Ethics for Arkansas Teachersby Lyn Newton | More from this Blogger 11 Jun 2008 09:11 PM I was very interested when I came across an article that stated that Arkansas had adopted a new code of ethics for its teachers beginning in September. It seems that there had been some concerns and controversy over the adoption of the ethics. Therefore I was very interested to see what the state had in mind. I was indeed completely shocked. What I have found in writing is simply what I thought every teacher would live by without needing a written code. The new code states that teachers in Arkansas cannot use tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs at school or during school activities involving students. My question is- Who thought that they were supposed to anyway? Should this not be a given? Did it really need to be placed in writing? The code also states that teachers should maintain a professional relationship with the students and not use their teaching position for personal gains. The teachers are also required to uphold confidentially when it comes to standardized testing and other personal information about students. First time teachers will be asked to pay a fee to help cover the cost of enforcing these rules. The fees may total around $135.00. Teachers breaking the rules may be given a warning, asked to pay a fine, or receive a harsher punishment. Some are worried that with the new code of ethics out here in writing parents and others will misuse it by trying to catch the teachers doing something to get them in trouble. The fear is that someone will get mad and try to make accusations against teachers. While I have heard of many false accusations, I think that simply doing what you know is right will be enough to uphold your name in the end, especially when it seems that the code is not anything that teachers should not already be living by. Learn more about Lyn Newton  Lyn is a kindergarten teacher and mommy to a girl and a boy. In her spare time, she enjoys informative and creative writing. Relevanteducation tags User Comments HA-MOM (5) 25 Jun 2008 06:24 AMYou don't have the whole story. The original version of the ethics code was much more intrusive. If a teacher was even accused of a crime, it would become public and they could lose their license. Even a speeding ticket would be a cause to lose your job. Does that sound fair? There was also a provision about moral turpitude. So, if someone had different values than you, they could report you and you'd lose your license. For instance, drinking alcohol in a restaurant is morally objectionable to many people in my area of the state. Any taxpayer could file a complaint on a teacher drinking wine with dinner in a restaurant. The report would be public knowledge before the teacher even got to have a hearing on the manner. If a teacher had an affair even with someone totally outside the school setting, that would be grounds for dismissal. Another part that was taken out had to do reporting anything done by a colleague. If I saw another teacher smoking in his car on school grounds and didn't report him, I could lose my license. Does that sound like a good working environment? You should really make sure you know the whole story before passing judgment on a whole state of teachers.  Andrea Hermitt (5507) 26 Jun 2008 12:24 PMI find the whole thing reprehensible and don't believe that a job should have that much control over a teachers life. Outside of stripping, drugs, alcohol ABUSE, and sexual deviancy, it is really no one's business what a teacher does outside of school. It just looks like another way to frighten away good teachers.  Lyn Newton (3966) 26 Jun 2008 03:49 PMHa-Mom, Thanks for the clarification. I actually read the story from NEA. Nothing that you metioned above was in the article. It only addressed that those types of things (drinking, smoking, etc) could not be carried out with students. Which I would consider to be a decision that anyone with good common sense could make. Those things with anyone underage is a bad idea. I agree that what is done in your private life should not affect your school life. However, as a teacher, I am very cautious about the activites that I carry out when I may be seen by students or parents. I feel that while it is my private life, I still want to be a good role model for my students and my own children. In my district teachers can smoke in their car as long as they are a certain distance from the school building. Sorry to pass judgment based on one article! I agree that those terms are harsh- look for a follow-up article in the near future! Discuss this article
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