Educational Ethics and Leadership Introduction Why do ethics

Educational Ethics and Leadership

Introduction • Why do ethics matter? • Who decides what’s “ethical? ” • Putting ethics to work. EPFP 2009 2

Ethics, Education and Leadership • Ethical Leadership o What ethics do leaders model? • Leadership with Ethics in Mind o What should we consider when leading others? • Leadership for Ethics o How do we teach others? (staff/students) EPFP 2009 3

Why do ethics matter? • Civic mission of schools/Organizations “For democracy to flourish, public education must play a central role in promoting responsible moral action that serves the common good. ” –Charles Haynes, First Amendment Center • “To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. ” –Theodore Roosevelt EPFP 2009 4

Why do ethics matter? n Part of our leadership code Standard 5: An education leader promotes the success of every student by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner. Source: Educational Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC 2008 as adopted by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA) on December 12, 2007. EPFP 2009 5

Why do ethics matter? • Make us more effective as leaders “Ethics is ultimately about relationships. …No matter what definition of ethics you examine, ethics is not primarily about standards, rules, and sanctions in isolation from society. Ethics is about people and their relationships with one another. ” EPFP 2009 6

Who decides? • Rushmore Kidder’s research identified 5 core moral values – Honesty – Respect – Responsibility – Fairness – Compassion Rushmore Kidder, in Shared Values for a Troubled World: Comversations with Men and Women of Conscience (1994 ) and Moral Courage (2005) EPFP 2009 7

Framing the issue n Ethical paradigms u. Ethic of Justice u. Ethic of Critique u. Ethic of Care u. Ethic of Profession u. Personal Code Shapiro & Stefkovich, Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in Education, LEA 2005 Shapiro & Gross, Ethical Educational Leadership in Turbulent Times, LEA, 2008 EPFP 2009 8

Framing the issue n Ethic of Justice u. Rights u. Policies u. Law u. Ethical dilemmas resolved by rules, fairness, equity, and justice «Equity and equality «What circumstances justify exceptions «Individual rights vs. community good EPFP 2009 9

Framing the issue n Ethic of Critique u. Awakens educators to inequities in society. u. Who makes law? u. Who benefits? u. Who has power? u. Who is silenced? u. Ethical dilemmas resolved by asking how all children can be enabled to overcome past inequities to grow, learn and achieve. EPFP 2009 10

Framing the issue • Ethic of Care – “The first job of schools is to care for our children. ” Noddings, 1992 – What are long-term effects of the decision? – Decision-making requires leaders to consider multiple voices. EPFP 2009 11

Framing the issue n Ethic of Profession u Education, unlike law, medicine, dentistry and business, require little or no formal training in ethics. . u Best when examined in light of your personal code of ethics. EPFP 2009 12

Putting ethics to work • Tap shared core values when making—or selling—leadership decisions • Learn to recognize other’s ethical frameworks • Become skilled in knowing which framework to use when making decisions that impact people in your organization • Learn how to resolve “clashes” – Right vs. Right – Clashes between ethical codes • “Moral imperative”: Serve the best interests of students/staff EPFP 2009 13

Final Words The importance of having an ethical LEADER…is inherent to the success of the organization as a social entity: Society or we do not invent principles; they are the laws of the universe that pertain to human relationships and human organizations. … To the degree people recognize and live in harmony with such basic principles as fairness, equity, justice, integrity, honesty, and trust, they move toward either survival and stability on the one hand or disintegration and destruction on the other. –Covey, 1992 EPFP 2009 14

And one more… • “Be your most creative when making ethical judgments, not when rationalizing immoral behavior. ” BE AN ETHICAL LEADER!!!! EPFP 2009 15