Professional ethics and commitment towards the teaching profession are needed today more than ever. Teaching has shifted from a passion to just another profession. Teachers must commit to continuously improving their knowledge, to students by supporting their well-being and interests, to colleagues by cooperating with them, to parents by advising them on their children's welfare, and to the community by participating in its affairs. Of all commitments, the most important is to students, as teachers shape the future generation. To develop strong teacher-student relationships requires committed teachers who follow ethical and moral practices.

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International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, ISSN 0975-3486, (Print), E- ISSN -2320-5482, Aug- Oct, 2013 (Combind) VOL –V * ISSUE- 47-49
Research Paper— Education
Aug- Oct ,2013
Professional Ethics and Commitment towards Teaching
Profession: Need of the Hour
* Dr. Urmila Goel ** Ms. Shruti Goel
*Assot.Prof., Hindu College ofEducation , Sonepat
**Assit. Prof., Hindu Girls College , Sonepat
A B S T R A C T
In the recent times, teaching profession has been degenerating over a period of time from its high ideals and ethical values to
the level of merely any other service oriented vocation as that of a mechanic,; a trader etc.. From the Gurukul system to the
present Mc Caulay system of education, however, the discernment of the society on teachers seem did not change. Teaching
is now a profession rather than a passion and thus there is a paradigm shift in the perception of teachers.
Introduction:
The quality of a nation depends upon the
quality of its citizens. The quality of the citizens rests
upon the quality of their education. The qualityof their
education depends upon the competence, dedication
and quality of the teacher. It is the teacher who renders
the service to the individuals to enable him to grow to
hisfulleststatureathisoptimumspeedinalltheaspects
of his personality to be his best self. Educational orga-
nizations such as schools, colleges and universities
require individuals who are committed to their profes-
sion and are well being of students. Such committed
individuals,teachersarethenationbuildersand educa-
tional institutions are the functional heads of all that
goes to make the foundations of a nation strong .
Rapid development of knowledge demands
creation of qualitative teacher who in turn will help to
strengthen a knowledge society to meet the challenges
of globalization and mould the societykeeping in view
the values and traditions .In order to meet the demands
of the present society, he has to play different roles
competently. Globalization revolution in information
and communication technology explosion in general
forabetter qualityoflifehavelead to searchforquality
teacher education programme which can infuse in fu-
ture teachers a set of desired competencies, values, a
sense of commitment and willingness to perform.
TeachingAsAProfession
Webster'sNewWorldDictionaryoftheAmeri-
can language says Aprofession is a vocation or occu-
pationrequiringadvancedtraininginsomeliberalartor
scienceandusuallyinvolvingmentalratherthanmanual
work as teaching, engineering etc. Professions like
medicine,engineering,lawetc.arelimitedtheirservice
to particular side of human life. But the highest good
consistsinallarounddevelopmentofindividual'sphysi-
cal, social, intellectual, moral, spiritual and aesthetic
aspects. It is the teaching profession which helps an
individual for his growth fully, in his body, mind and
spirit. Teaching profession is a body of erudite knowl-
edge, a set ofattitudes and a technique which is applied
to the service of mankind through an educated group.
ProfessionalEthics
Professional ethics is set of rules and regula-
tionsrelatedtothecodeofconductandethicalbehavior
of profession. It signifies the do's and don'ts of a pro-
fessionandpositionofanindividualinthemoralmatrix
of social behavior. Acode of ethics of a profession not
onlyprotectsitsmembersfromunfairtreatmentfromthe
public but also discipline its members.
Professional ethics of teachers refer to the principles,
guidelines or norms of morality, which a teacher has to
follow in teaching profession while dealing with stu-
dents, parents, community and higher authorities. Ac-
cording to the International commission on the Devel-
opmentofEducation(UNESCO,1972):"Theteacher's
duty is less and less to inculcate knowledge and more
and more to encourage thinking, his formal functions
apart,hewillhavetobecomemoreandmoreanadvisor,
a partner to talk to ; someone who helps seek out con-
flicting arguments rather than handling out readymade
truths. He will have to devote more time and energy to
productive and creative activities; interaction, discus-
sion,stimulation,understandings,encouragement."The
moral foundations of teaching are expressed in four
dimensionsofprofessionalism-community,knowledge,
accountability, and ideals.
ProfessionalCommitment
Professionalisminanysectorisaconsequence
of the extent of commitment on the part of individuals
constituting the same. Teaching, being profession,
assumes that every teacher needs to stand committed
to it - According to the report of the Task Force on
UniversityandCollegeTeachers,followingarethepro-
fessionalcommitmentstobemadeonthepartofteacher:
CommitmentToTheTeachingProfession:
• Keepingabreast ofthe developmentsin theteaching
profession. • Ensure that professional knowledge is

2. 91RESEARCH ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
International Indexed & Refereed Research Journal, ISSN 0975-3486, (Print), E- ISSN -2320-5482, Aug- Oct, 2013 (Combind) VOL –V * ISSUE- 47-49
regularly updatedandimproved.•Attendconferences,
workshops,seminarsandmeetings,takefieldtrips,which
tend to broaden knowledge. •Utilize audio-visual aids
like OHP, LCD,T.V. radio, computer etc. as a means of
keeping abreast ofnewand advanced knowledge in his
field. • Keeping in view the new concepts like group
dynamics,individualizedinstructions,cooperativelearn
ingetc.•Keepabreastofthedevelopmentsintheteach-
ing profession.
CommitmentToStudents:
• Maintain professional relations with students. •
Share responsibilities with students. •Provide them-
selvesassuccessfulfacilitatorsoflearning.•Safeguard
and promote the interests and well being of the stu-
dents.•Givestudentsafeelingofbeingpartofcommu-
nity. • Have faith in students. • Playthe role of a friend,
philosopher and guide to the students. • Acknowledge
the specific needs of each students and provide guid-
ance and encouragement to each student to realize his
or her full abilities.
CommitmentToColleagues:
• Have mutual respect for his colleagues. •Safeguard
and promote the interests and well being ofcolleagues.
• Establish good human relations with colleagues. •
Keep away from forming clique and groups. •Never
criticize any colleague before the students, parents or
someone else.•Have the feeling of cooperation and
unity among the colleagues.
CommitmentToParents:
• Participate in parent- teacher meeting and similar
activities.
• Make himself available to parents at scheduled time
to discuss the welfare and progress of their children.•
Give advise to the parents from a professional point
of view that is in the best interest of the child.• Make
every effort to encourage parents to be actively in-
volved in the education of their child and to actively
support the learning process. •Guide and motivate the
parents coming from weaker sections of the society to
give higher education to their children.
CommitmentToCommunity:
• Participate in community affairs. •Assure through
personal behavior in the communitythat the school
staff image is favorable. •Attitude in the community
should be of enthusiasm and optimism. •Show due
courtesy to the members of the community especially
when they visit the school.
OtherCommitments:
• Possess knowledge about the state education code.
• Have knowledge of rules regarding recognition of
school.•Haveknowledgeofrulesregardingadmission
procedures. •Have knowledge of service conditions.•
Haveknowledgeofrulesregardingschoolinspection.•
Have knowledge of the rules of examination and so
on.
Among all the above commitments, the most im-
portant commitment of the teachers is towards his/her
students, which play eminent role in the teaching pro-
fession.As the teachers are responsible for shaping the
futureofthepresentgenerationsthereisneedofhaving
sound teacher- student relationship which can be de-
velop only through the committed teachers, because
onlyacommittedteacherwillmakeeffortstomakelearn-
ingeffective;innovativeandmotivatestudentstowards
teaching learning process. For this teachers need to
follow some ethical and moral consideration which is
necessary for having a good teacher student relation-
ship.
Conclusion:
No other occupation can be rated as high as
the teaching profession because of its contribution to
the betterment of society and to serve mankind. The
responsibilities of teaching extend beyond children's
academicdevelopment.Moraldevelopmentofstudents
is one of the important aims of education which has
implications for teacher education also. The growing
complexities and erosions of essential values in the
society have resulted to the need of having value edu-
cation but also including professional ethics in teacher
education.So,commitmentisveryessentialinanypro-
fession as to become that profession a success.
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