Question
. Do an internet search of the definition of a professional teacher. Do you agree
with the definition? Give two reasons to support your stance. (5)
2. Read the given scenarios below and indicate whether in each scenario the
teacher acted in a professional manner or not. Indicate your stance and give
two reasons for each scenario to support it.
Scenario 1
During playground duty, Mr Simango, a teacher at Silindile Primary School observes
an altercation between two learners. One learner appears to have lost his temper,
has picked up a stick and is threatening to use it as a spear against the other learner.
He is waving the stick around in front of the face of the other learner and shouting at
the learner. As the Mr Simango moves towards the two learners, the teacher sees
that the stick is sharp and makes a judgment that the stick could do some damage to
the learner/s. Mr Simango also judges that there is no time to enlist the help of
another teacher to prevent a possible injury to either learner. Mr Simango moves
between the two learners, grabs the arm of the learner waving the stick and removes
the stick from the learner’s grasp. The learner wrenches away his arm and in doing
so suffers a sprain to his wrist (5)
Scenario 2
Ms Nepo, a member of Phepo Secondary School selection panel, learns that his
best friend’s partner has applied for the vacancy at her school. Ms Nepo does not
say anything and participates in the whole interview process of filling the vacant
position. (5)
Scenario 3
Mr Brave a member of Arsenal political organisation, which is the main opposition
party in government, receives confidential information in the course of their work
about a government policy proposal that they know would be unpopular. Mr Brave
discloses the information to his political organisation.
with the definition? Give two reasons to support your stance. (5)
2. Read the given scenarios below and indicate whether in each scenario the
teacher acted in a professional manner or not. Indicate your stance and give
two reasons for each scenario to support it.
Scenario 1
During playground duty, Mr Simango, a teacher at Silindile Primary School observes
an altercation between two learners. One learner appears to have lost his temper,
has picked up a stick and is threatening to use it as a spear against the other learner.
He is waving the stick around in front of the face of the other learner and shouting at
the learner. As the Mr Simango moves towards the two learners, the teacher sees
that the stick is sharp and makes a judgment that the stick could do some damage to
the learner/s. Mr Simango also judges that there is no time to enlist the help of
another teacher to prevent a possible injury to either learner. Mr Simango moves
between the two learners, grabs the arm of the learner waving the stick and removes
the stick from the learner’s grasp. The learner wrenches away his arm and in doing
so suffers a sprain to his wrist (5)
Scenario 2
Ms Nepo, a member of Phepo Secondary School selection panel, learns that his
best friend’s partner has applied for the vacancy at her school. Ms Nepo does not
say anything and participates in the whole interview process of filling the vacant
position. (5)
Scenario 3
Mr Brave a member of Arsenal political organisation, which is the main opposition
party in government, receives confidential information in the course of their work
about a government policy proposal that they know would be unpopular. Mr Brave
discloses the information to his political organisation.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### 1. Definition of a Professional Teacher
A professional teacher is generally defined as an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications, skills, and ethical standards to effectively educate students. This definition often includes attributes like dedication, continuous learning, adherence to educational standards, and an understanding of diverse student needs.
**Do I agree with the definition?** Yes, I agree with this definition.
**Reasons:**
1. **Commitment to Learning:** A professional teacher is committed to their own continuous personal and professional development. This ensures they stay updated with the latest teaching methods, theories, and subject knowledge, which ultimately benefits their students.
2. **Ethical Standards:** Teachers must adhere to professional ethics, including fairness, respect, and integrity. These qualities are critical in fostering a safe and conducive learning environment, as they help build trust and respect between the teacher and students.
### 2. Professionalism in Scenarios
**Scenario 1:**
**Did Mr. Simango act in a professional manner?** Yes, Mr. Simango acted in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Prioritizing Student Safety:** Mr. Simango made a quick and necessary decision in a high-stress situation to prioritize the safety of the students involved. His immediate intervention helped to prevent a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.
2. **Judgment Under Pressure:** He assessed the situation rapidly, recognizing the threat and understanding that he needed to act quickly, which is a critical aspect of professionalism in teaching, particularly in managing student behavior and safety.
**Scenario 2:**
**Did Ms. Nepo act in a professional manner?** Yes, Ms. Nepo acted in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Impartiality in the Hiring Process:** By not disclosing her friend's connection to the candidate, Ms. Nepo demonstrated impartiality and integrity during the interview process, which is essential for maintaining fairness in hiring practices.
2. **Professional Responsibility:** Her involvement in the entire interview process signifies her commitment to her professional responsibilities, ensuring that candidate selection is based on qualifications and not personal relationships.
**Scenario 3:**
**Did Mr. Brave act in a professional manner?** No, Mr. Brave did not act in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Breach of Confidentiality:** Mr. Brave disclosed confidential information, which goes against the ethical obligation to maintain confidentiality in a professional setting. This breach could undermine public trust in the political organization.
2. **Potential Conflict of Interest:** Sharing confidential information for political gain indicates a conflict of interest, which may harm the integrity of the political organization and contributes to an environment of distrust in political processes.
A professional teacher is generally defined as an individual who possesses the necessary qualifications, skills, and ethical standards to effectively educate students. This definition often includes attributes like dedication, continuous learning, adherence to educational standards, and an understanding of diverse student needs.
**Do I agree with the definition?** Yes, I agree with this definition.
**Reasons:**
1. **Commitment to Learning:** A professional teacher is committed to their own continuous personal and professional development. This ensures they stay updated with the latest teaching methods, theories, and subject knowledge, which ultimately benefits their students.
2. **Ethical Standards:** Teachers must adhere to professional ethics, including fairness, respect, and integrity. These qualities are critical in fostering a safe and conducive learning environment, as they help build trust and respect between the teacher and students.
### 2. Professionalism in Scenarios
**Scenario 1:**
**Did Mr. Simango act in a professional manner?** Yes, Mr. Simango acted in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Prioritizing Student Safety:** Mr. Simango made a quick and necessary decision in a high-stress situation to prioritize the safety of the students involved. His immediate intervention helped to prevent a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.
2. **Judgment Under Pressure:** He assessed the situation rapidly, recognizing the threat and understanding that he needed to act quickly, which is a critical aspect of professionalism in teaching, particularly in managing student behavior and safety.
**Scenario 2:**
**Did Ms. Nepo act in a professional manner?** Yes, Ms. Nepo acted in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Impartiality in the Hiring Process:** By not disclosing her friend's connection to the candidate, Ms. Nepo demonstrated impartiality and integrity during the interview process, which is essential for maintaining fairness in hiring practices.
2. **Professional Responsibility:** Her involvement in the entire interview process signifies her commitment to her professional responsibilities, ensuring that candidate selection is based on qualifications and not personal relationships.
**Scenario 3:**
**Did Mr. Brave act in a professional manner?** No, Mr. Brave did not act in a professional manner.
**Reasons:**
1. **Breach of Confidentiality:** Mr. Brave disclosed confidential information, which goes against the ethical obligation to maintain confidentiality in a professional setting. This breach could undermine public trust in the political organization.
2. **Potential Conflict of Interest:** Sharing confidential information for political gain indicates a conflict of interest, which may harm the integrity of the political organization and contributes to an environment of distrust in political processes.