Teacher's ethical problem

By mor
Kiryat Ata, Israel
January 4, 2013 2:45am CST
If I will be a teacher, I know some students will need extra help and I really care about students. I want to help each and everyone of them to understand the material. Today, I volunteer and help a teacher to teach elders with computers and they need a lot of guidance and I want to help some of them after lesson time. I have some spare time and maybe I will help them for some money. Do you find it ethical for a teacher to teach after class in private and take money for it ? Most of the teachers from the school don't teach private lessons and not to students from their class. They are teachers full time job already. I think a teacher can also teach private lessons or at least give a private lesson for no money. I don't find any unethical things in that. Maybe one student will say, "Hey, why does the teacher also teach in private ? how much does he take per hour ? it's not fair , I have no money..."
1 person likes this
5 responses
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
4 Jan 13
Hello stringer. A teacher's job is usually a full-time job. If the teacher is happy to make some extra money after work, he/she can do it. It is unrelated to ethical problem as it is her or his overtime work for someone who is willing to pay her or him. Thanks for the discussion.
2 people like this
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
4 Jan 13
Thank you for making the subject more clear. It seems like no problem shall come up. But, one student may say, I went to the teacher and he taught me this and that, I paid him some money per hour... How is it looked like ? Isn't it looked like a bribery ? Well, I guess you are right.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
5 Jan 13
I believe there's a difference in the code of conduct between teaching in a public and private school. The public school have a different and stricter code than the private school as the government's education ministry have to ensure that the teachers are qualified and compliant to the government's prescribed code. One of them being the ban of teaching own students outside school hours for money. Certain schools forbids their teachers from conducting private lessons because of the infringements in the intellectual rights of the teaching methods and materials which belongs to the teacher's school. These are some of the legitimate grounds which forbids the teacher from conducting private lessons outside school premises and hours. On this aspect, I believe you will need to check your hiring contract for such clauses which does not permit you to conduct classes of certain nature or subjects on the side and outside of the school. I believe that such codes and compliance is necessary for the teaching individuals' integrity.
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
6 Jan 13
I respect such rules and those rules are right. They have a point. I will still be able to help my own students if I have ones. I will prepare them extra work papers with more details and explanation, I will give them more exercise to practice and I will maybe find some others who will be able to help them after school time. Maybe some of the students will help each other, I will encourage them to do so.
@jkct02 (2874)
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
4 Jan 13
I am not comfortable with teachers who take in their own students from their own class for paid private tuition after the office hours. It will create a special class of students in the class who are closer to the teacher and the students may also be given special tips by the teacher in their tests and exams that those students who are not in the private tuition with the teacher do not get. The teacher may not have done that but the teacher has got to be seen as being fair. Being respected, the teacher can not afford to let his/her reputation to be ruined by any possibilities or rumors. The teacher can provide after school tuition for money but the students must not be from his/her class or better, his/her school to avoid any misunderstandings.
1 person likes this
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
4 Jan 13
You are right. There may be a chance that the teacher will give secrets and tips that other students don't get in the official class time. It can make the teacher not treating everyone equally. So, I think the teacher has to try to set an extra time for all of the students to come to the class and offer them to come for more. And he will have to take nothing. But, if some can't come, it's a problem...they will have to complete it later.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
4 Jan 13
I don't think it's immoral or unethical. I feel sorry for those people who have no money for what they want to do, but it's not unethical if you provide a chance for those who need after-lesson guidance for those who need it. But everyone should understand that your time is not free.
1 person likes this
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
4 Jan 13
The time is not free, but, the job is not just teaching for money and a teacher has to show that he cares about the student as a person and not care for the money. I would print some extra papers and send them in mails so they can follow the papers at home and teach themselves, I will do extra work for the students, I will not charge money. (maybe I will send them someone else to teach them and they will pay him). I recommend you to read the respond above. She has some good points and I think she is right.
4 Jan 13
You will be a great teacher. :) Most of the teachers in my country doesn't really care about their students, because their payment is so low, they work with anger and bringing their all personal problems in class.For such a responsible and important for the society work, they have to get a better paid for sure and do for what they are there.Prepare the young mind for the real world.
1 person likes this
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
4 Jan 13
Hmmm...how much money does one need if he teaches some days in the class and he already has where to live and has some food and a roof over his head ? If he likes what he does and get satisfaction for helping others, That's his reward, and maybe, in one way or other, he will find more people to teach privately for money but not his own students... That situation is complicated I must admit and all the responds seem so right even if they have conflicts...