Ethical Issues in Education

Ethics refers to beliefs and behaviors that guide a society’s sense of right or wrong. All societies are guided by a notion of what is correct behavior. These “correct” behaviors are called social norms and generally have been accepted as within a range of what society considers appropriate. The term ethics is derived from an ancient Greek word meaning “habit or custom.” The concept of ethic is for an individual to answer the question “What is correct or incorrect behavior?” or to differentiate right from wrong. Ethics or ethical behaviors are present in all aspects of one’s life from interpersonal interactions to the way one functions in both personal and professional life. This entry provides an overview of ethics and then focuses on the application ...