ETHICS IN ETHICS IN COLLEGE TEACHINGCOLLEGE TEACHING

bybySEGUN GBADEGESINSEGUN GBADEGESIN

Department of PhilosophyDepartment of Philosophy

FROM THE MOUTH OF A FROM THE MOUTH OF A CHILDCHILD • ‘‘A little girl was talking to her teacher about A little girl was talking to her teacher about

whales. The teacher said it was physically whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, " heaven I will ask Jonah". The teacher asked, " What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl What if Jonah went to hell?" The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".’replied, "Then you ask him".’

THE ACADEMYTHE ACADEMY

• Mission Mission

• MeansMeans

• MilieuMilieu

MissionMission

• General: Promote scholarship for the General: Promote scholarship for the benefit of humanitybenefit of humanity

• Specific: Specific: Howard University is a comprehensive, research-oriented, Howard University is a comprehensive, research-oriented, historically Black private university providing an educational experience of historically Black private university providing an educational experience of exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular exceptional quality to students of high academic potential with particular emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to promising emphasis upon the provision of educational opportunities to promising Black students. Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and Black students. Further, the University is dedicated to attracting and sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, sustaining a cadre of faculty who are, through their teaching and research, committed to the development of distinguished and compassionate committed to the development of distinguished and compassionate graduates and to the quest for solutions to human and social problems in graduates and to the quest for solutions to human and social problems in the United States and throughout the worldthe United States and throughout the world

Howard Core ValuesHoward Core Values

• TruthTruth

• FreedomFreedom

• Culture Culture

• Caring, nurturing and respectful environment for allCaring, nurturing and respectful environment for all

• Leadership Leadership

• ServiceService

• Diversity Diversity

• Equal protection under the lawEqual protection under the law

• Equal opportunityEqual opportunity

MeansMeans

• TeachingTeaching

• ResearchResearch

• Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

• ServiceService

MilieuMilieu

• Human agentsHuman agents• InstructorsInstructors

• StudentsStudents

• AdministratorsAdministrators

• Support StaffSupport Staff

• MaterialsMaterials

• Physical FacilitiesPhysical Facilities

Broad Ethical IssuesBroad Ethical Issues

• What justifies the mission?What justifies the mission?

• What ought the university to teach?What ought the university to teach?

• What ought the university to investigate?What ought the university to investigate?

• How ought the university to carry out its How ought the university to carry out its teaching and investigations?teaching and investigations?

The InstructorThe Instructor

• Agent of scholarshipAgent of scholarship– TeachesTeaches– SearchesSearches– Self developsSelf develops– ServesServes

FROM THE MOUTH OF A FROM THE MOUTH OF A CHILDCHILD• ‘‘A teacher was giving a lesson on the A teacher was giving a lesson on the

circulation of the blood. Trying to make the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it face.." "Yes," the class said. "Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause my feet?" A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty.’your feet ain't empty.’

Paradox of the AcademyParadox of the Academy

• The Noble and the IdealThe Noble and the Ideal– Citadel of objective search for truthCitadel of objective search for truth– Home of “saints”Home of “saints”

• The Ignoble and the BaseThe Ignoble and the Base– Abode of egoistic egg-headsAbode of egoistic egg-heads– World of spoiled elites out of touch with World of spoiled elites out of touch with

the real worldthe real world

The PerceptionThe Perception

• Perception: Professors as saintly Perception: Professors as saintly truth seekers versus professors as truth seekers versus professors as scampish standard compromisersscampish standard compromisers

The RealityThe Reality

•Reality: Some of each: “saints Reality: Some of each: “saints and scamps” abide in the house and scamps” abide in the house of truthof truth

•Ethical dilemmas exist: “saints” Ethical dilemmas exist: “saints” do face the question: what is the do face the question: what is the right course now?right course now?

Context of Ethical Context of Ethical Issues Issues

• TeachingTeaching

• ResearchResearch

• Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

• ServiceService

Moral PrinciplesMoral Principles

• AutonomyAutonomy

• BeneficenceBeneficence

• NonmaleficenceNonmaleficence

• JusticeJustice

FROM THE MOUTH OF A FROM THE MOUTH OF A CHILDCHILD

• ‘‘The children were lined up in the cafeteria of aThe children were lined up in the cafeteria of a

Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted it on the apple tray: made a note, and posted it on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further "Take only ONE. God is watching." Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.” ‘watching the apples.” ‘

AutonomyAutonomy

• Respect the autonomy of students Respect the autonomy of students and instructors in the learning and instructors in the learning environmentenvironment

BeneficenceBeneficence

• Promote the benefit of students, Promote the benefit of students, professors, the profession/discipline professors, the profession/discipline and the consuming publicand the consuming public

NonmaleficenceNonmaleficence

• Avoid causing unnecessary pain to all Avoid causing unnecessary pain to all those in the learning environment: those in the learning environment: students, professors, and the students, professors, and the consuming publicconsuming public

JusticeJustice

• Fairly distribute the benefit and burden of Fairly distribute the benefit and burden of the learning, teaching, research process the learning, teaching, research process and outcomes to all concerned: students, and outcomes to all concerned: students, professors, school, and the publicprofessors, school, and the public

Case 1Case 1 Incompetence meets Incompetence meets popularitypopularity• X is an assistant professor in a mid-size urban university. He is X is an assistant professor in a mid-size urban university. He is

flamboyant and popular with the administrators. A computer flamboyant and popular with the administrators. A computer whiz , he helps out a lot. But X is grossly incompetent in teaching whiz , he helps out a lot. But X is grossly incompetent in teaching and research. His students complain frequently about his and research. His students complain frequently about his absenteeism and failure to prepare for class. The chairperson of absenteeism and failure to prepare for class. The chairperson of the department, who is otherwise firm and thorough, feels the department, who is otherwise firm and thorough, feels helpless because she is the only black woman in a white helpless because she is the only black woman in a white institution where X is also white. She has told X on a number of institution where X is also white. She has told X on a number of occasions to get his act together, but X is contemptuous of her. occasions to get his act together, but X is contemptuous of her. One day, a black woman in X’s class complains about a racist One day, a black woman in X’s class complains about a racist remark that X has made in his aesthetic class. His remark is that remark that X has made in his aesthetic class. His remark is that many people would judge white skin to be more beautiful than many people would judge white skin to be more beautiful than black skin. The chair is furious and wants to make an issue out of black skin. The chair is furious and wants to make an issue out of this. Then she also thinks about the principle of academic this. Then she also thinks about the principle of academic freedom. What should she do?freedom. What should she do?

The Veil of Academic The Veil of Academic FreedomFreedom

• Freedom without license to hurtFreedom without license to hurt

• No level classroom playing fieldNo level classroom playing field

• Student autonomy and classroom Student autonomy and classroom intimidation/harassment intimidation/harassment

Case IICase II Student autonomy /Professor Student autonomy /Professor authorityauthority• Professor Y is known for his command of Professor Y is known for his command of

the classroom environment. He brooks no the classroom environment. He brooks no nonsense and his students know it. One nonsense and his students know it. One day, he asks the class a question and day, he asks the class a question and there is a complete silence. Y then calls there is a complete silence. Y then calls one student to give the answer. The one student to give the answer. The student refuses to answer the question. Y student refuses to answer the question. Y feels disrespected and asks the student to feels disrespected and asks the student to leave his classroom. Is Y right?leave his classroom. Is Y right?

The autonomy of The autonomy of reasonreason

• Autonomy requires responsibilityAutonomy requires responsibility

• Paternalism is sometimes justified: Paternalism is sometimes justified: curriculum development, syllabus curriculum development, syllabus preparation, examination preparationpreparation, examination preparation

• Students must not be embarrassedStudents must not be embarrassed

Case IIICase IIIClash of missions and professor Clash of missions and professor predicamentpredicament• W was a professor in a small 4-year college with an outstanding W was a professor in a small 4-year college with an outstanding

football team. Dow, a member of the team, registered in W’s logic football team. Dow, a member of the team, registered in W’s logic course. After the first class, Dow introduced himself to W, course. After the first class, Dow introduced himself to W, informing him that he would be away on many occasions because informing him that he would be away on many occasions because of the games. W told him that he would have to do all the work to of the games. W told him that he would have to do all the work to earn a good grade. Dow assured W that he would. At the end of earn a good grade. Dow assured W that he would. At the end of the semester, Dow failed the course. The football coach called W’s the semester, Dow failed the course. The football coach called W’s office to plead for a review of Dow’s performance on the ground office to plead for a review of Dow’s performance on the ground that Dow was an invaluable member of the team and failure that Dow was an invaluable member of the team and failure meant withdrawal from the college. Then the Departmental chair meant withdrawal from the college. Then the Departmental chair called W. The provost too called. They all asked W to give Dow a called W. The provost too called. They all asked W to give Dow a “D” instead of an “F”. W thought he could not do anything about “D” instead of an “F”. W thought he could not do anything about it. Then one of his colleagues reminded him that he was due for it. Then one of his colleagues reminded him that he was due for tenure review the following year. What should W do? What would tenure review the following year. What should W do? What would you do? you do?

Resolving moral Resolving moral dilemmasdilemmas

• Clarification of the demand of Clarification of the demand of principlesprinciples

• Establishment of the priority of Establishment of the priority of principlesprinciples

• Establishment of the priority of Establishment of the priority of missionsmissions

• Priority of autonomous decisionPriority of autonomous decision

Case IVCase IV Sex as a teaching tool? Sex as a teaching tool?• S is a full professor in a research institution. She is prolific S is a full professor in a research institution. She is prolific

in research and has brought a lot of research dollars to her in research and has brought a lot of research dollars to her institution. She has also written extensively in her field. S institution. She has also written extensively in her field. S also loves students and enjoys having them around on also loves students and enjoys having them around on campus and in her home. Ordinarily this is commendable. campus and in her home. Ordinarily this is commendable. But S adds another dimension to her love for students. She But S adds another dimension to her love for students. She enjoys having sexual relationship with them. She does not enjoys having sexual relationship with them. She does not see anything wrong with this and she justifies it on the see anything wrong with this and she justifies it on the ground that it makes her teaching effective. According to ground that it makes her teaching effective. According to her, that was how she learned well from her professors too her, that was how she learned well from her professors too and she advocates the method to others. In the light of the and she advocates the method to others. In the light of the principles discussed above, what do you think of Professor principles discussed above, what do you think of Professor S?S?

FROM THE MOUTH OF A CHILDFROM THE MOUTH OF A CHILD

• ‘‘The children had all been photographed, The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade and the teacher was trying to persuade them eachthem each

to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.' “ A small voice at the back He's a doctor.' “ A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, She's dead. “’teacher, She's dead. “’