Preface

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Code of Ethics supports the vision, core values, and mission of the board in fostering professional standards for teachers, not only with regard to academic rigor, but to include the highest ethical standards of professional conduct which foster commitment to students, the profession, and the community. This code is intended to advance the teaching profession, to guide the professional behavior of P-12 educators in the State of Hawaii, and to form the basis for disciplinary action taken by the Board, as authorized in Hawaii Revised Statutes §302A-807.

 

Principle I: Commitment to Students

Hawaii P-12 educators shall:

• Provide students with appropriate educational services based on research and accepted best practices

• Provide services to students in a nondiscriminatory manner;

• Take all reasonable precautions to protect the health, safety and well being of students;

• Maintain a respectful, professional relationship with students;

• Keep information about students in confidence, unless disclosure is required by law or serves a professional purpose;

• Nurture in students life-long respect and compassion for themselves and others.

• Promote the right and freedom of students to learn, explore ideas, develop learning skills and acquire the necessary knowledge to achieve their full potential;

• Not exploit professional relationships with students for personal gain.

 

Principle II: Commitment to the Profession

Hawaii P-12 educators shall:

• Exhibit behaviors which uphold the dignity of the profession;

• Be fair and equitable in their treatment of all members of the profession in a nondiscriminatory manner;

• Keep information about colleagues in confidence, unless disclosure is required by law or serves a compelling professional purpose;

• Continue to study, apply, and advance the professional knowledge base for P-12 educators and maintain a commitment to professional education.

 

Principle III: Commitment to the Community

Hawaii P-12 educators shall:

• Distinguish between personal and institutional views in communication to the public;

• Be truthful in representing facts concerning educational matters;

• Decline any gratuity, gift or favor that would impair or influence professional decisions or actions;

• Make information about education research and best practices available to students, parents, colleagues, and the public;

• Be open and honest with students, parents, colleagues, and the public.