The Role of Education in Forming Ethical Behaviors

Title: The Role of Education in Forming Ethical Behaviors

Introduction

        Education is the process of acquiring and learning information whereby knowledge learned will have an effective impact on our mind, character, and physical ability (Gulcan, 2015). Experience gained through continuous input of knowledge mutualize our way of thinking and behave. When teaching and learning takes place, education exists where information is transmitted from one generation to another to maximize one potential (Calin, 1996). In general, the main purpose of education is to improve humankind (Plato, 2000 & Aristotle, 1996). Socratic practice is used as modern educational practices (Gulcan, 2015). In this method, the way humankind can be improved is by asking some question by teacher whereby students are required to answer it with their own reasons to help them discover and clarify knowledge (Goetz, 2014 & David, n.d.). Thus, intellectual abilities of students will improve consequently. Education today serves the needs of state, society and citizens by helps in progressing the states, gives knowledge and built character (Davidson, 1900).  

        Nowadays, morality become an alarming issues that serious attention is required (Tamuri, Othman, Dakir, Ismail & Stapa, 2013). Based on the national survey conducted by Josephson Institute of Ethics in year 2006 on high school students, majority of students are taking parts in academic misconduct (Lumpkin, 2008). It indicates that morality of students today is declining where unethical behaviors are done. Unethical behaviors is the action of people who behave in morally incorrect way. People are not born to be ethical or unethical where taught is needed (Mele, 2012). Thus, transmission of moral values or moral education is required for moral development (Lipe, n.d.). Moral development referred to actual behavior of a person in a situation of right and wrong, one’s ability to think critically of moral problem, and the actual moral opinion held by one individual (Lipe, n.d.). There is relationship between moral education and ethical behaviors where moral education is vital in developing students’ ethical behaviors.

Teachers are the one who working in education institution to deliver moral education or transmit moral knowledge to students. It is said that teachers should be example of morality since society expects teachers to be role model to students (Punke, 1965). Students who absorb practically everything from their teacher are going to observe their teachers’ behaviors and learn it although the behaviors expressed are not intended to provide students with any moral education (Lipe, n.d.). Thus, teachers cannot be avoided in moral development of students and in guiding their ethical behaviors. Ethic is about quality connection of people where ethically behaved people will lead to good behaviors of more and more people (Trevino & Nelson, 2010). We often hear that “good practice”, which related to teaching skills. Thus, “bad practice” does also exist where teachers should eliminate it from professional (Rath & Lyman, 2003). There are many type of teachers with different teaching skills, competencies and behaviors. Teachers’ failure in teaching, misconduct and incompetency often results demoralized students with unethical behaviors conducted (McPherson, Mary, Kearney, Patricia Plax & Timothy, 2003). Thus, teachers are vital in determining ethical behaviors of students.