NEA-Code of Ethics of the Education Profession
Preamble
The educator, believing in the worth and
dignity of each human being,
recognizes the supreme importance of the
pursuit of truth, devotion to
excellence, and the nurture of the
democratic principles. Essential to these
goals is the protection of freedom to
learn and to teach and the guarantee of
equal educational opportunity for all. The
educator accepts the responsibility to
adhere to the highest ethical standards.
The educator recognizes the magnitude of
the responsibility inherent in the
teaching process. The desire for the
respect and confidence of one’s
colleagues, of students, of parents, and
of the members of the community
provides the incentive to attain and
maintain the highest possible degree of
ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics of the
Education Profession indicates the
aspiration of all educators and provides
standards by which to judge conduct.
The remedies specified by the NEA and/or
its affiliates for the violation of any
provision of this Code shall be exclusive
and no such provision shall be
enforceable in any form.
PRINCIPLE I
Commitment to the Student
The educator strives to help each student
realize his or her potential as a worthy
and effective member of society. The
educator therefore works to stimulate the
spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of
knowledge and understanding, and the
thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.
In fulfillment of the obligation to the
student, the educator–
1.Shall not unreasonably restrain the
student from independent action in
the pursuit of learning.
2.Shall not unreasonably deny the
student’s access to varying points of
view.
3.Shall not deliberately suppress or
distort subject matter relevant to the
student’s progress.
4.Shall make reasonable effort to
protect the student from conditions
harmful to learning or to health and
safety.
5.Shall not intentionally expose the
student to embarrassment or
disparagement.
6.Shall not on the basis of race,
color, creed, sex, national origin, marital
status, political or religious
beliefs, family, social or cultural
background, or sexual orientation,
unfairly–
a. Exclude any student from
participation in any program
b. Deny benefits to any
student
c. Grant any advantage to any
student
7.Shall not use professional
relationships with students for private
advantage.
8.Shall not disclose information about
students obtained in the course of
professional service unless
disclosure serves a compelling professional
purpose or is required by law.
PRINCIPLE II
Commitment to the Profession
The education profession is vested by the
public with a trust and responsibility
requiring the highest ideals of
professional service.
In the belief that the quality of the
services of the education profession directly
influences the nation and its citizens,
the educator shall exert every effort to
raise professional standards, to promote a
climate that encourages the exercise
of professional judgment, to achieve
conditions that attract persons worthy of
the trust to careers in education, and to
assist in preventing the practice of the
profession by unqualified persons.
In fulfillment of the obligation to the
profession, the educator–
1.Shall not in an application for a
professional position deliberately make
a false statement or fail to
disclose a material fact related to competency
and qualifications.
2.Shall not misrepresent his/her
professional qualifications.
3.Shall not assist any entry into the
profession of a person known to be
unqualified in respect to character,
education, or other relevant
attribute.
4.Shall not knowingly make a false
statement concerning the
qualifications of a candidate for a
professional position.
5.Shall not assist a noneducator in
the unauthorized practice of teaching.
6.Shall not disclose information about
colleagues obtained in the course
of professional service unless
disclosure serves a compelling
professional purpose or is required
by law.
7.Shall not knowingly make false or
malicious statements about a
colleague.
8.Shall not accept any gratuity, gift,
or favor that might impair or appear
to influence professional decisions
or action.
– NEA