Contemplating the Manitoba Teacher's Society Code of Professional Practice


Professionalism. It’s a big word accompanied by some BIG responsibilities. As a member of the Manitoba Teacher’s Society there is a Code of Professional Practice that all teachers are expected to employ and embody. This is no small task. The Code of Professional Practice connects teachers with other professionals in the work force: doctors, lawyers, accountants, police officers… and, I would argue, it is this Code that also sets these professions apart from other jobs. There are some jobs that you can leave at the end of the day. You know that common cliché to “leave your job at work”? However, what I would argue differentiates professionals is that this separation isn’t always that easy or appropriate. The minute I was accepted into the Faculty of Education I accepted a new level of responsibility in my life.

I can’t flick a switch- I made a decision and there no “off” button for teaching. That means when you see me at the grocery store, theatre, rink, or a social I am still a teacher. Some people might scoff at this idea and argue that your personal identity shouldn’t be so tied up in what you do. I would agree to an extent. However, I think it is also important to remember (this is one of my favourite quotes) “that the way we spend our days, is the way spend our life”. If I spend my days teaching, I am a teacher and that accompanies a large number of responsibilities. Being a good mentor is one of them. That means even when I am tired or feel like having a good time- to the public I am still Ms. Simpson: the woman that parents and caregivers trust me to care for and educate their children.

Does that mean that I need to wear a flashing sign on my head with an arrow saying “I am a teacher”? No. But I would argue that sometimes it might feel that way anyways and that if you really want this job that it is something you have to be willing to accept.

This applies not just in my public life, I would argue, but my private life as well. Does that mean that I cannot make human errors or be imperfect (which who is ever perfect anyways)? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that I need to always try my best to be an upstanding citizen and ethical person who abides the law and has good moral conduct. Arguably, this is the way everyone should live; however, most of the time how someone else acts isn’t any of my business if it isn’t harming myself or others. However, when you are a teacher this changes and suddenly my actions do become other people’s business.

In addition, some would argue your colleagues business becomes your business too. This is a topic that makes me somewhat uncomfortable. I am an honest, upfront person when there is something involving me that concerns me but I do think there is a slippery slope to policing co-workers. In class some people argued that that is how a profession’s integrity is upheld: by watching one another and informing a colleague when their actions don’t measure up. However, I would argue that this is easier to talk about doing than to actually do it when the time comes. In addition, I think it is heavily dependent upon context. How long have you been working with this colleague? What is your work relationship like? Are you the veteran or rookie teacher? It shouldn’t matter, in theory because we should all always be able to do the right thing. In reality, this is a lot more difficult…

Research on Kohlberg’s theory of moral development supports this assertion. The correlation between what people believe to be right and what they really do is actually quite low. I think this is because of the human element that exits in every situation. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t ever tell a colleague when I think their actions are inappropriate or not coinciding with our Code of Professional Practice. It means that it will depend on the situation, circumstances, severity of their actions, and other variables that exist.

Teachers should epitomize the qualities we seek in to have in our society. After all, we are the people who shape future generations of adults. Any teacher that doesn’t feel comfortable with this responsibility needs to reconsider their career choice. It is a scary feeling at times to know that my actions will be so influential on others but it is also incredibly empowering. Few people have the opportunity to shape a child’s life the way a teacher does. The most effective way to make changes in a society is through education. A teacher holds the key to this change. Holding ourselves to a high standard should be implicit when we remember this very fact.