Manitoba Teachers' Society

McMaster House

191 Harcourt Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3J 3H2

Phone: (204) 888-7961 Toll Free: 1-800-262-8803

Fax: (204) 831-0877 Toll Free: 1-800-665-0584

Code of professional practice

What is expected of you as a professional? This is a question which is not only asked by beginning teachers, but also reflects the ethical dilemmas even more experienced teachers face. As a profession, we have made a public statement about the conduct of our members which the public can expect in return for trusting us with the education of their children.

The Code of Professional Practice establishes the required standards of conducts for all members of The Manitoba Teachers' Society. A teacher's professional behaviour must reflect the spirit as well as the letter of the Code.

1. A teacher's first professional responsibility is to her or his students.
2. A teacher acts with integrity and diligence in carrying out professional responsibilities.
3. A teacher avoids involvement in a conflict of interest, recognizes that a privileged relationship with students exists and refrains from exploiting that relationship for material, ideological or other advantage.
4. A teacher speaks and acts with respect and dignity, and deals judiciously with others, always mindful of their rights.
5. A teacher respects the confidential nature of information concerning students and may give the information only to authorized personnel or agencies directly concerned with the individual student's welfare.
6. A teacher's conduct toward colleagues is characterized by consideration and good faith.
7. A teacher first directs any criticism of the professional activity of a colleague to that colleague in private. Only after informing the colleague of the intent to do so, the complainant may direct in confidence the criticism to appropriate officials through the proper channels of communication.
8. A teacher shall not be considered in contravention of the Code in:
   1. consulting with the Society or the president of the member’s local association;
   2. reporting reasonable grounds for suspected child abuse according to legal requirements.
9. A teacher does not bypass immediate authority to reach higher authority without first exhausting the proper channels of communication.
10. A teacher makes an ongoing effort to improve professionally.
11. A teacher adheres to collective agreements negotiated by the professional organization.
12. A teacher neither applies for nor accepts a position which is included in a Society in-dispute declaration.
13. A teacher or group of teachers makes only authorized representations to outside bodies on behalf of the Society or its local associations. Without the express permission of the Society, no member(s) conferring with outside bodies may explicitly or implicitly claim that they represent the Society or its local associations.

(Violation of the Code shall be addressed through application of MTS bylaws.)

(revised, Annual General Meeting, 2007)