ETHIC

AL ISSUES IN

EDUCATIO

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AM

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Introduction

Education is an on-going process

We are always receiving and passing it on, adding something in the process, sometimes even taking certain things, impertinent from time to time, away from it while passing it on further.

Introduction

However, the industry of education is a serious one, requiring well defined ethics and values, well bound in visible legal outlines to regulate its exchange and distribution.

LIST OF ETHICAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION

Following are some of the most common moral, legal and ethical issues in education that are most often faced by the givers and receivers of education, along with the education institutes, management thereof and, sometimes, parents and guardians of students.

Educational Resources With Respect to Special Education

Choice of Teacher School Uniforms - Should They be Made

Compulsory? Discipline Issues Addressing Diversity

Educational Resources With Respect to Special Education

The passing of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975 by the Federal Government marked the first milestone in special education of children with disabilities.

But prior to this act, handicapped children had no other recourse but to attend general public schools and curriculum which were not appropriate given their special requirements.

Choice of Teacher

The eternal contention between a principal and the parents regarding which teacher the child in question should be assigned to the following year is one of the major moral issues in education.

There are two, very predictable outcomes to this debate:

• Either the principal uneasily resigns to parental

logic or

• The former evade the latter’s request by

making a blanket statement saying it is not in

school policy to honor parents’ opinion as far as

choice of teaching faculty goes.

School Uniforms - Should They be Made Compulsory?

This one also has two sides to it - a "for" side and an "against" side. Arguments in favor of imposing uniforms observe what the lack of a uniform dress code has done to school campuses nationwide - immodest piercings, provocative or too casual attire, outrageous hair colors and styles, etc. etc.  Advocates against imposing school uniform argue that clothing has no effect, whatsoever, on education and what one wears to school has no bearing on what is taught at school.

Also, state the latter, it is not necessary that all students are able to afford a uniform - would they be denied education for want of a uniform?

Discipline Issues

To put it in short, it is the age old zero tolerance policy vs. give-em-another chance policy. Both policies should work side-by-side in all educational or other institutes. 

The opportunities, however, should not be kept unlimited for the same default by the same individual. Giving second chances does not translate into spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child attitude!

Addressing Diversity

With students from socially and ethnically diverse backgrounds seeking admissions in schools today, the issue of whether or not to address diversity poses a serious question.

Racial inequality and ethnic differences have been an issue in public schools since the time public schools were founded. The foremost step towards addressing diversity in schools should come from the curriculum itself.

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