Task 5B

Hello,

 So having a search on my account on www.fronter.com I have found a few things that I didn't even think into in the previous task (4A.) I have had a look into different policies and codes of conduct and came across the Pay Policy. This hadn't even crossed my mind when thinking about ethics at my workplace, but I believe that the codes of regulations for salary has a very important part to play in ethics.
Firstly this struck my attention; 'Governors recognise that financial reward is not the only means of supporting staff and will try to ensure that staff have appropriate support and facilities for their work.' The reason I found this has part in the ethical framework of the school is because the Governing body uses the word 'try'. There isn't a declaration or promise involved that is full. They will 'try' to ensure the staff have the support and facilities that they need. I find a lot of loop holes in things like that as it could cause an uproar of unwanted hassle by staff members who don't end up getting the support that they need. Staff members' personal ethics/morals can be challenged and could force a few standards to go out of the window due to frustration of not being able to do their jobs properly or being paid fairly. This isn't wholly candid on staff members and consider this to be a matter of organizational ethics which I think isn't 100% secure. But is it ever secure in any type of organization?
Another thing was; 'The Governing Body may pay an unqualified teachers’ allowance to unqualified teachers when the Governing Body consider their basic salary is not adequate having regard to their responsibilities, qualifications and experience.' This had a more positive affect on my thoughts on the ethical standards of the school. Even though the word 'may' stands out as slightly negative, I would think that if an unqualified teacher (such as myself) wrote a letter stating that they have a lot of responsibility at the school and/or experience in teaching that the Governors would then consider giving a better salary through the unqualified teachers' allowance. It shows fairness which is important in having a steady working environment alongside colleagues who are qualified teachers and those who are in the same boat as you. Seeing as I believe experience and responsibility are very important when it comes to rate of pay and gaining respect from others, it gives positive personal ethics and the means of being fair gives the opportunity for other colleagues to not have hard feelings, especially those who haven't got the experience and responsibilities. It makes decent morality easy to control.
Another policy that I thought could relate to codes of practice/regulations was the Equality, Diversity and Community Cohesion Policy, mainly because it's gives a massive hint by the word cohesion that it would be based on morality and how people need to act in the workplace with the wide range of ethnicities.

So, here's what I found; 'Promoting community cohesion is neither new to us nor an optional extra.' So as I understand it, the school is welcoming and expects all staff members to accept diversity and give equal rights to every student and every colleague. Seeing as it isn't optional, it's quite important to go about it in an authentic manner. The Policy also mentions about staff following the catholic or christian faith by seeing the richness in God's creation in every body. This to me shows the high expectations of the school for staff members to have very commendable personal ethics/morals.   

Another thing, which I think is just perfect for codes of practice is this: 'Our Equality, Diversity and Community Cohesion Policy is based on the following core values as expressed in our school’s Mission Statement.' Below is the statement of which the policy is relating to: 

§    We welcome everyone into our loving and caring school, where we respect each other and ourselves.

 §    We inspire and motivate each other to achieve and grow using the talents given to us by God.

 §    We learn by questioning and challenging to become the best we can be.

 §    We celebrate the diversity within our community knowing that we all belong to God’s family.

 §    We say sorry for our mistakes and forgive each other.

 §    We challenge everybody to be actively involved in our community.

 §    We pray together and celebrate the love of Christ.

This gives a very clear point of the expectational morality and ethical standards of the school and shows how the school is exceptionally fair.

Thus, so far there isn't a lot of difference to my own thoughts on the ethics of my place of work other than information I hadn't looked into regarding the Pay Policy.
As well, like I had mentioned in my previous Task, it gives information in the Behaviour Policy when giving disciplinary action, we are to; 'develop an ethos of kindness, co-operation and forgiveness that has Gospel values at heart.' So like I had thought about in Task 5A we are to inspire and discipline the children with Jesus/Christianity in mind.
BUT, then I finally came across a differentiation in the Child Protection Policy; 'All staff are aware that they cannot promise a child to keep secrets'.

Now, this to me proves that the school is concerned very much for the child's safety, BUT the error is that if we are not even allowed to promise to a child about keeping a secret, would we be able to get the information that they wish to give? Surely we can say that we will promise, but go straight to our superior on the matter? Or is that not allowed in the ethos of the school being catholic and lying being a sin?
I think that this is an organizational ethics error as they are not taking into account all of the possible consequences that this could lead to. It isn't clear enough whether we are not meant to promise at all or to not just say that we'll promise. Organizational seems to clash with Professional and Personal ethics.

The ethos of the school is very clear in the Mission Statement but this has it's flaws as keeping to the gospel means to not tell a lie, but then in the Child Protection policy it states; 
We are committed to the Every Child Matters: Change for Children outcomes, for every child to:

• ·               Be healthy;
• ·               Stay safe;
• ·               Enjoy and achieve;
• ·               Make a positive contribution;
• ·               Achieve economic well-being.

 

Surely then, if we are to be committed to the 'Every Child Matters', undoubtedly the gospel can get in the way slightly with the commandment of not to tell a lie. What if it's vital to lie to help a child?

It's quite disappointing to find this information as it's misleading and unclear of the expections where christian moral values and child protection can clash. Again it is similar to the case study 2 in the Reader.
Overall the school has brilliant motivational Personal ethics and Professional ethics, and I think it fits with my original thoughts very well with the exception of the not being able to promise to a child when their safety is involved.


Just to finish, this website; http://www.education.southwark.anglican.org/education/teaching The Diocese of Southwark, is strictly connected to the School that I work at and this particular link gives details of a training session for NQT's and Teacher's new to a church school. I think that this is a fantastic opportunity to understand the ethics involved in a catholic/church school and to help new comers to be able to adapt a bit in advance before starting work in that type of school.



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