The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct

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The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct was developed to uphold the application of core values, ideals, and principles to assist teachers’ decision-making about ethical issues. The Core Values of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct is based on the foundation of the field's commitment to young children. It is noteworthy that all seven of the Code's Core Values directly address our commitment to children: • Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle • Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn • Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family • Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society • Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague) • Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues • Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect The first section of the Code specifically addresses our responsibilities to young children. Its twelve ideals emphasize the importance of basing program practices on knowledge of child development and remind early childhood educators that they are responsible for creating programs that meet the developmental needs of all children in ways that respect their culture, language, ethnicity and family structure. The twelve principles in this section of the Code describe practices that are required, permitted, or prohibited as we work with young children. It is this section of the Code that I find the most challenging. In Section 1, Ethical Responsibilities to Children, Ideal 1-1.10 states that we are “to ensure that each child’s c... ... middle of paper ... ...iable above all the others. This principle is the framework of what the code of conduct is based on. The Code of Ethics can help us understand what our professional responsibilities are to the children in our care, to the families of the children, to co-workers, and to the community and society in general. Works Cited Care, N. R. (2002). Licensing and Public Regulation of Early Childhood Programs. Retrieved May 17, 2010, from uchsc.edu: http://nrc.uchsc.edu/CFOC/HTMLVersion/Appendix_AA.html Decker, C. A., Decker, J. R., Freeman, N. K., & Knopf, H. T. (2009). Planning and Administering Early Childhood Programs. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from NAEYC.org: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

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