Educators act ethically and maintain the integrity, credibility, and reputation of the profession.
As a future educator, it is incredibly important for me to understand and follow the BC Professional Standards. One of the most important standards for an educator is standard 2. In short, it demonstrates our ability to maintain a professional image inside and outside of the classroom.
Even though I haven’t always known I wanted to be a teacher, I have always tried to maintain a good image on social media and everywhere else in my life. As a joke, my father would always say, “be careful how you act in public, I have eyes everywhere.” Although I always knew it was a joke, I’ve held myself to the standard that people are watching, so if I consume alcohol in public, it’s always a minimal amount. If I decide to attend a party, I behave as if it were a family function. It has always been important to me that if in the future someone recognizes me, it’s not for the horrid things I used to do in public but for the good image I maintained throughout my life.
Standard 2 holds educators to a bit of a higher level. It doesn’t encourage us to live our lives as if we were under a microscope but instead helps us remember that we maintain a civil and professional image because we are often recognized by our students and their families out in public or on social media.
This standard reminds us educators that we should not be blackout drunk in public or have any incriminating or inappropriate photos on our social media. This does not mean that we cannot enjoy our lives as we please, but it is often considered just a reminder that we are educators and role models for the community, so we should model what we want our students to see.
Standard 2 will help me remember that although I can still live my life how I would like and do things that I consider fun and exciting, I am part of a profession that is held to a higher standard, and I must respect the profession by maintaining its integrity and reputation.
