5C Ethics reader

Well after a slightly emotional debate with my boyfriend I feel ready to try and blog some of what I have learnt from the reader on ethics.

As I'm sure everyone did, I found the picture of the young girl extremely distressing and couldn't comprehend why anyone would chose not to help her situation let alone sit back and take pictures of her for there own professional gain. My boyfriend (playing devils advocate) forced me to see it from another point of view. Firstly if Kevin Carter had intervened then what? What would he have done? Taken her to the water, and then? I can't pretend to no anything about Sudan. I'm sure however there culture differs massively from our own. What might have happened to him if he touched that child? Where was the girls family? Why didn't the other people at the water come and help her? Maybe she was born to die there at that moment? I don't no what the answers are but the questions could go on forever.
Personally I feel there is a line where professionalism can be pushed to one side and this is it. It would go against my nature not to want to help a vulnerable child. But am I saying that because it would make me feel better to save her or because it would help the child? I'd love to say hand on heart it would be all for her but a part of me believes that it might be a selfish act. 'I' couldn't live with the guilt of NOT helping.
At the end of the day whether we think its right or not that picture is still being spoken about 15 years on. Carter was a professional photographer, It was his job to take pictures of the shocking famine in Sudan and maybe ask us question ourselves and our own moral views on the situation. Sadly I no there are still many children out there right now who have the same fate. Our culture and our society dictates to us whats wrong and right, so should we expect other cultures to have the same morals?

In 2011/2012 I spent a year travelling the world. I spent a lot of time in countries which are referred to as '3rd world'. I remember once when in Mumbai being offered a trip into the slums. I didn't go as I felt it wasn't morally right to walk around taking pictures like it was some sort of zoo. I'm sure many tourists do it though and I'm sure its an eye opening experience, but is it right?

“whatever in any city is regarded as just and admirable is just and admirable in that city for as long as it is thought to be so”

'In other words, justice differs from state to state and indeed with the passage of time. Social changes have rendered certain types of conduct which were acceptable to being not so. These changes have also brought a rethink in previously unacceptable behavior becoming acceptable. These cultural variations in the notions of “good” can result in tensions and conflict.' *Reader 5 Professional Ethics

I feel the above quote by Plato's character of Theatetus follows on from this debate and clearly defines for me the idea of how ethics evolve. It also introduces the idea of conflict as a result of changing ethics which I find really interesting as ultimately the whole basis of having ethics in place is to have a 'good life/society'.

How individuals and religions define good is objective to them and whilst I don't practice any religion I do feel the basis of my morals to be Christian as I was born into a christian household.

The quote also made me reflect on the codes of practice/policy's in an educational setting and how they have evolved.
My dad used to get the cane if he miss behaved and even though he was naturally left handed he was forced to write with his right hand. Today teachers have to fill out a form if they touch a child to put a plaster on their knee. Staff have a duty of care to protect students and themselves.
The school holidays are currently based around christian festivals such Christmas and Easter, however as London and other cites become more multicultural will this change. At present my school will allow students off for religious holidays such as Eid, my boyfriends school closed for the day as their cohort is 98% Muslim. This summer Ramadan will fall at the same time as GCSE exams. Is it ethically right for students to have to sit the most important exams of their life's to date while their fasting?  

I'm still  not 100% on my inquiry topic but this reader has certainly opened my eyes to codes of practice an professionalism I should be adhering to whilst conducting my research.   

Questions, answers and literature!

I'm currently reading a book called 'True and False' by David Mamet. I haven't read it for about 5 years and its been really interesting to go back and explore his theories. As a drama practitioner Mamet discusses the concept of character and the essence of acting. Stripping away all the methods and techniques, he believes the key to truthful performance is all in the text. Mamet himself is a writer/director and I feel his concepts are an extension of this. The book has inspired me to look at other aspects of my 'craft' and the training process we put ourselves through in order to 'get it'.
I've also received a lot more feedback on my original questions these last few weeks which has influenced the direction of my inquiry. 

A friend of mine (who is a professional actor) answered the following to my question about how the baccalaureate scheme is going to affect the arts in schools. 

7) I guess it will mean that creative people can have opportunities in academic fields.

I hadn't ever look at it in this way. The whole idea of creativity in schools being squashed angers me really. However I think its quite interesting that others think it could have the almost opposite affect by infecting more 'academic' subjects with maybe some much needed creative input. I mean can maths be creative? Who knows..... I'm still very adverse to the idea personally but I would never have considered any positive implications without the feedback from my draft questions

As I continue with my literature and search for a stimulating inquiry question I'd love any suggestions on my award title. I need something that will open doors into acting and educational establishments. Originally I took this course as I thought I wanted to become a secondary school drama teacher, but I'm now unsure. I don't feel ready to leave the world of acting behind. In fact I feel like I'm having a slight transition at the moment and things might be slowly, FINALLY happening for my acting career. I am a realist though and I like the idea of having options and opportunity's available to me in other related fields (Although Mamet would see this as preparing to give up) 

I look for to your suggestions 

:)

Task 5B

After speaking with other staff members I was made aware of a folder we have on the shared area at work that lists all the policies for the school in detail.

I was correct in the ideas I had, however there are far more policy's than I had anticipated. They are listed below.

Policies

·         Child Protection

·         Attendance

·         Charging

·         Capability

·         Children in care

·         Collective Worship

·         Community Use

·         Circumculm grantee

·         Environmental recycling and management plan

·          Exam

·         Exclusion

·         Finance

·         Governor training and development

·         Health and safety

·         ASD provision + PI behaviour

·         Pay

·         Performance management

·         Whole Food

·         Equality Scheme

·         Lettings

·         Line Management

·         Mobile phone

·         Appraisal

·         Rarely cover

·         Anti bullying

·         Values for Success

5A

I am currently working in a school so I am aware of lots of regulations regarding the safety of staff and students. This includes day to day things like not running in the corridors to more specialist regulations like fire drills and first aid.

I've tried to break down some of what I consider to be the main points.

Data – Private documents.The school holds a lot of private information belonging to both staff and students  eg: bank details, addresses, medical history.This information can only be accessed by relevant parties. Important documents such as children’s statements would be locked away in filling cabinet.

Child protection – The school has 2 child protection officers one male one female.All staff has to complete child protection training and let the student no before they disclose anything to you that you will have to pass it on to the designated child protection officer.The Child protection officer will have contact with the police and local authority.

Fire Drills – The school must hold regular fire drills and have alarms around the site. They also need to have designated area where staff and students line up to be registered. We also need to have fire awareness training.

Registers - A register is a legal document that must be completed at the beginning of each lesson. The school has to no who is on site at all times.

Identity badges - following on from this all members of staff are require to have an identity badge, with there photo. This acts as an identification device but also allows them access to the building and rooms within the school. Visitors to the school must wear visitor badges, we are encourage to question anyone we see one site that doesn't have either of these things.Staff are not allowed out of the front gate once the school day has begun. They must use the side entrance. I think this is to prevent opportunities for anyone to enter or exit the building who shouldn't.

First aid training – There has to be first aiders on sight at all times. A first aid kit must be taken with groups that go off site.

Open plan toilets – The school has open plan toilets to prevent bullying.

Sanctions – All staff have to follow the same behavioral policy to encourage consistency and so the parents and students are away of procedures.

Faith- The school has to respect the religious beliefs of all staff and students. A room is dedicated for those who wish to use it for prayer and absences dues to religious holidays are consented to.

Examinations: The school is required to run internal exams as per the exam board specification. Exam papers with not be tampered with and will be locked away until the day of the exam.

I'm sure there are millions more but these are what I have come up with off the top of my head.