ethics case studies

Case Study Scenarios Case Study Scenarios for Discussion Boardfor Discussion Board

Some of these scenarios are to Some of these scenarios are to be discussed in the week one be discussed in the week one

discussion in Blackboard.discussion in Blackboard.

From NAEYC

The Process of Resolving an The Process of Resolving an Ethical DilemmaEthical Dilemma

Identify the problemIdentify the problem Decide if it involves ethicsDecide if it involves ethics

Is it a dilemma or responsibility?Is it a dilemma or responsibility? Can it be finessed?Can it be finessed?

Look for guidance in the NAEYC CodeLook for guidance in the NAEYC Code What are the conflicting values?What are the conflicting values? How should they be prioritized?How should they be prioritized?

What is the most ethically defensible What is the most ethically defensible course of action?course of action?

From NAEYC

What do we do?What do we do?ID ProblemID Problem

↓↓

No: Seek No: Seek solutionsolution

Involves ethics?Involves ethics? Yes (issues of Yes (issues of right, wrong…)right, wrong…)

Responsibility: Responsibility: Do what is rightDo what is right

Dilemma or Dilemma or responsibility?responsibility?

Dilemma: You Dilemma: You have a choice…have a choice…

Yes: Solve it!Yes: Solve it! Can it be solved Can it be solved with ethical with ethical finesse? finesse?

No…No…

From NAEYC

What do we do?What do we do?Look for guidance Look for guidance

in Code, get in Code, get more info…more info…

Yes: Seek legal Yes: Seek legal advice!advice!

Legal dimension?Legal dimension? No…No…

Decide on a Decide on a course of actioncourse of action

Issue resolved!Issue resolved!

From NAEYC

So, How Can the Code Be So, How Can the Code Be Used in Real-Life SituationsUsed in Real-Life Situations

From NAEYC

Administering TestsAdministering TestsThe program you teach for is under pressure to use The program you teach for is under pressure to use

“standardized paper-and-pencil” tests. You’ve been “standardized paper-and-pencil” tests. You’ve been told that two tests have been chosen and you’ll told that two tests have been chosen and you’ll

receive training on how to administer them. Your receive training on how to administer them. Your observation recordings will no longer be used to observation recordings will no longer be used to

assess children’s progress. assess children’s progress. You’ve heard that for these tests you must remove the You’ve heard that for these tests you must remove the

child from the classroom and take him to another child from the classroom and take him to another room to test him. You’re worried that many children room to test him. You’re worried that many children

will find this to be stressful, and you’re also will find this to be stressful, and you’re also concerned about leaving your aide alone with all the concerned about leaving your aide alone with all the other children in the group for long periods of time.other children in the group for long periods of time.

Feeney, Freeman, & Pizzolongo, NAEYC, 2008

Administering TestsAdministering Tests

What should an early What should an early childhood professional do?childhood professional do?

Brainstorm IdeasBrainstorm Ideas

Language Use for ELsLanguage Use for ELs

You’ve been teaching in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual program for You’ve been teaching in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual program for many years. You speak English and Spanish and you’ve used both many years. You speak English and Spanish and you’ve used both languages in your classroom—for conversing with children and languages in your classroom—for conversing with children and other adults, for labeling the bookshelves, etc. You also have other adults, for labeling the bookshelves, etc. You also have several Vietnamese children who do not speak English in your group. several Vietnamese children who do not speak English in your group.

You’ve asked their parents to teach you some words in Vietnamese so You’ve asked their parents to teach you some words in Vietnamese so that you can help children with routines and in their play—words that you can help children with routines and in their play—words such as “bathroom,” “outside,” “inside,” and “lunch.” Several parents such as “bathroom,” “outside,” “inside,” and “lunch.” Several parents whose home language is Spanish are concerned that their children whose home language is Spanish are concerned that their children will not learn English if you keep speaking Spanish in the classroom. will not learn English if you keep speaking Spanish in the classroom. And, the Vietnamese families do not want their children speaking And, the Vietnamese families do not want their children speaking Vietnamese in the classroom. They want you to have “English Vietnamese in the classroom. They want you to have “English lessons” for the toddlers and preschoolers.lessons” for the toddlers and preschoolers.


Language Use for ELsLanguage Use for ELs



Child’s BehaviorChild’s BehaviorA parent in our program has deep Biblical values A parent in our program has deep Biblical values

and believes in "sparing the rod, spoiling the and believes in "sparing the rod, spoiling the child." Her child who is almost two years old child." Her child who is almost two years old

has been consistently hitting other children in has been consistently hitting other children in your group. When you shared with her other your group. When you shared with her other

alternatives to disciplining at home visits, she alternatives to disciplining at home visits, she responded by saying, "I only listen to my responded by saying, "I only listen to my

pastor.“pastor.“

What should an early childhood professional do?What should an early childhood professional do?Feeney, Freeman, & Pizzolongo, NAEYC, 2008

Parent RequestParent RequestA parent calls to express concern that her three-A parent calls to express concern that her three-

year-old daughter is permitted to walk the year-old daughter is permitted to walk the short distance to the bathroom without an short distance to the bathroom without an adult accompanying and waiting for her. You adult accompanying and waiting for her. You

reassure her that the security in your center is reassure her that the security in your center is good, but she insists that her child must be good, but she insists that her child must be

individually escorted to the bathroom.individually escorted to the bathroom.

What should an early childhood What should an early childhood professional do?professional do?


Parent Criticizes Parent Criticizes Nearby PreschoolNearby Preschool

Families who previously had children enrolled in a nearby Families who previously had children enrolled in a nearby preschool have told you stories of what happened to preschool have told you stories of what happened to

their children in that center. They describe dirty their children in that center. They describe dirty sheets on the cots, harsh punishments including sheets on the cots, harsh punishments including

withholding food, and ratios of twenty children to one withholding food, and ratios of twenty children to one adult. One day you drive by and see a lot covered with adult. One day you drive by and see a lot covered with

asphalt and dry grass. There are a few rusting pieces of asphalt and dry grass. There are a few rusting pieces of playground equipment. Several children are standing playground equipment. Several children are standing

along the chain link fence looking at the cars going by. along the chain link fence looking at the cars going by. There are no adults in sight.There are no adults in sight.

What should an early childhood professional do?What should an early childhood professional do?Feeney, Freeman, & Pizzolongo, NAEYC, 2008

Standardized TestingStandardized Testing

Your program uses a standardized test Your program uses a standardized test for assessing children’s progress. You’ve for assessing children’s progress. You’ve been given a copy of the test and told been given a copy of the test and told that you must drill children on these that you must drill children on these

items throughout the year so that they items throughout the year so that they all will do well on the test.all will do well on the test.

What should an early childhood What should an early childhood professional do?professional do?


Tuition PolicyTuition PolicyThe mother of a child in your school is a single parent. She The mother of a child in your school is a single parent. She

has fallen behind on her tuition payments and is has fallen behind on her tuition payments and is currently 2 months in arrears. She was arrested on drug currently 2 months in arrears. She was arrested on drug charges about a month ago. Right now she is in jail trying charges about a month ago. Right now she is in jail trying

to make bail. The child is staying with the maternal to make bail. The child is staying with the maternal grandmother who works and brings him to the center. grandmother who works and brings him to the center. Several families are waiting for a space in the center. Several families are waiting for a space in the center.

They are financially qualified and anxious for their They are financially qualified and anxious for their children to be enrolled. Should the center’s policy for children to be enrolled. Should the center’s policy for prompt payment of tuition be disregarded, upheld, or prompt payment of tuition be disregarded, upheld, or

revised?revised?What should an early childhood professional do?What should an early childhood professional do?


The Sibling RuleThe Sibling RuleA parent asks if he can bring a young sibling A parent asks if he can bring a young sibling

to a parent workshop even though there is to a parent workshop even though there is a policy that younger siblings should not a policy that younger siblings should not

be brought to school. You have had be brought to school. You have had problems with parents violating the no problems with parents violating the no

sibling rule but you also think this parent sibling rule but you also think this parent could benefit greatly from the content of could benefit greatly from the content of

the workshop.the workshop.What should an early childhood professional do?What should an early childhood professional do?


The Abused ChildThe Abused ChildMary Lou, a three-year-old in your center, is showing Mary Lou, a three-year-old in your center, is showing

several signs of possible abuse: multiple bruises, several signs of possible abuse: multiple bruises, frequent black eyes, and psychological withdrawal. frequent black eyes, and psychological withdrawal. Her mother, a high-strung woman, says Mary Lou falls Her mother, a high-strung woman, says Mary Lou falls a lot, but nobody at the center has seen the child do a lot, but nobody at the center has seen the child do this. On two occasions, the child’s father appeared to this. On two occasions, the child’s father appeared to be drunk when he picked her up. be drunk when he picked her up.

The law says you are a mandated reporter who must The law says you are a mandated reporter who must report suspicions of child abuse to Child Protective report suspicions of child abuse to Child Protective Services, But in your experience, when the Services, But in your experience, when the authorities get involved they are usually unable to authorities get involved they are usually unable to remove the child from the home or improve the remove the child from the home or improve the family’s behavior. Sometimes the families simply family’s behavior. Sometimes the families simply disappear, or things become worse for the children.disappear, or things become worse for the children.

Koralek, Dodge, & Pizzolongo (2000). p. 335

The Abused ChildThe Abused Child



The Working MotherThe Working MotherTimothy’s mother has asked you not to allow Timothy’s mother has asked you not to allow

her four-year-old son to nap in the afternoon. her four-year-old son to nap in the afternoon. She says, “Whenever he naps he stays up She says, “Whenever he naps he stays up until 10:00 at night. I have to get up at 5:00 until 10:00 at night. I have to get up at 5:00 in the morning to go to work. I am not in the morning to go to work. I am not getting enough sleep.” getting enough sleep.”

Along with the rest of the children, Timothy Along with the rest of the children, Timothy takes a one-hour nap almost every day. He takes a one-hour nap almost every day. He seems to need it in order to stay in good seems to need it in order to stay in good spirits in the afternoon.spirits in the afternoon.

Koralek, Dodge, & Pizzolongo (2000). p. 335.



The Working MotherThe Working Mother

The Aggressive ChildThe Aggressive ChildEric is a large and extremely active four-year-old who Eric is a large and extremely active four-year-old who

often frightens and hurts other children. You have often frightens and hurts other children. You have discussed this repeatedly with the director, who is discussed this repeatedly with the director, who is sympathetic but unable to help. Eric’s parents listen sympathetic but unable to help. Eric’s parents listen but they think his behavior is typical for boys his age. but they think his behavior is typical for boys his age. They ignore your referrals to a counselor. A They ignore your referrals to a counselor. A preschool specialist from the Department of Mental preschool specialist from the Department of Mental Health has observed Eric, but her recommendations Health has observed Eric, but her recommendations have not helped either. have not helped either.

Meanwhile, Eric terrorizes other children and as a Meanwhile, Eric terrorizes other children and as a result, parents are starting to complain. You are result, parents are starting to complain. You are becoming stressed and tired, and your patience is becoming stressed and tired, and your patience is wearing thin. You and your co-teacher are spending wearing thin. You and your co-teacher are spending so much time dealing with Eric that you are worried so much time dealing with Eric that you are worried the other children are not getting the attention they the other children are not getting the attention they need.need.




The Aggressive ChildThe Aggressive Child

The Academic PreschoolThe Academic PreschoolHeather just went back to college to get her CDA credential. She Heather just went back to college to get her CDA credential. She

has been assigned as your trainee. She has taught at a has been assigned as your trainee. She has taught at a preschool center for several years, is happy there, and receives preschool center for several years, is happy there, and receives a good salary. During your observations, you saw three- and a good salary. During your observations, you saw three- and four-year-olds using workbooks for long periods of time. The four-year-olds using workbooks for long periods of time. The daily program included repetitious drill on letters, numbers, daily program included repetitious drill on letters, numbers, shapes, and colors. shapes, and colors.

Children were regularly “taught” the alphabet and rote counting to Children were regularly “taught” the alphabet and rote counting to 100. You also noticed that most interactions were initiated by 100. You also noticed that most interactions were initiated by adults and that children had few opportunities to interact with adults and that children had few opportunities to interact with materials.materials.

You mention to Heather that you do not think the center’s You mention to Heather that you do not think the center’s curriculum is appropriate for preschool children. She replies curriculum is appropriate for preschool children. She replies that she had a similar reaction when she began working there, that she had a similar reaction when she began working there, but the director and other teachers assured her there was no but the director and other teachers assured her there was no problem with the curriculum. They told her that this is the way problem with the curriculum. They told her that this is the way they have always taught at the school. The parents are very they have always taught at the school. The parents are very satisfied with it.satisfied with it.




The Academic PreschoolThe Academic Preschool

naeyc

ResourcesResources NAEYC General Session on the Code of Ethics NAEYC General Session on the Code of Ethics

Powerpoint – Powerpoint – www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/ecprofessional/EthicsCodeGeneralSession.pptwww.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/ecprofessional/EthicsCodeGeneralSession.ppt

NAEYC Code of Ethics Position StatementsNAEYC Code of Ethics Position Statements

http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/ethical_conducthttp://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/ethical_conduct NAEYC Professional Ethics CasesFeeney, S., Freeman, NAEYC Professional Ethics CasesFeeney, S., Freeman,

N., & Pizzolongo, P. J. (2008) N., & Pizzolongo, P. J. (2008) Koralek, D.G., Dodge, D.T., & Pizzolongo, P.J. (2000). Koralek, D.G., Dodge, D.T., & Pizzolongo, P.J. (2000).

Caring for Preschool Children, Vol. II. 2nd Ed. Caring for Preschool Children, Vol. II. 2nd Ed. Teaching Strategies, Washington D.C. pp. 335-336.Teaching Strategies, Washington D.C. pp. 335-336.

http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/ecprofessional/EthicsCodeGeneralSession.ppt

http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/ethical_conduct

ethics case studies

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