MODULE

[The Teaching Profession]

3

Teacher as a Person in Society

A. Morality and the Foundational Moral Principle

“When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling
inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says,
yes, this is how I ought to feel.- unknown

Someone once wrote of teachers: Even on your worst day on the job, you are
still some children’s best hope.” Indeed society expects much from you, the teacher. Henry
Brooks Adams said it succinctly: A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence
stops.”
For you to be able to cope with these expectations you should be anchored on a bedrock
foundation of moral and ethical principles. Let us begin this lesson by defining what morality is.

What is morality?
As defined by one textbook author, morality refers to “ the quality of human
acts by which we call them right or wrong, good or evil.” (Panizo, 1964). Your human action is
right when it conforms with the norm, rule or law of morality. Otherwise it is said to be wrong.
For instance, when Juan gets the pencil of Pedro without the latter’s permission, Juan’s action is
wrong because it is contrary to the norm, ”stealing is wrong”. A man’s action, habit or character
is good when it is not lacking of what is natural to man, i.e., when it is in accordance with man’s
nature. For instance, it is not natural for man to behave like a beast. He is man and unlike the
beast, he has the intellect and the free will. That intellect makes him capable thinking, judging
and reasoning. His free will gives him the ability to choose. Unlike the beast, he is not bound by
instincts. It is natural occurrence for beasts when a male dog meets a female dog on the street
and mate right there and then as they are not free but bound by their instinct, like sexual instinct.
But it is contrary to man’s nature when a man and a woman do as the dogs do. To do so is to go
down to the level of the beast.

Meaning of foundational moral principle

What is meant by foundational moral principle? The word principle comes from
the Latin word princeps which means a beginning, a source. A principle is that on which
something is based, founded, originated, and initiated. It is likened to the foundation of a
building upon which all other parts stand. If we speak of light, the principle is the sun because
the sun is the body from which the light of this world originate. A foundational moral principle is
therefore the universal norm upon which all other principles on the rightness or wrongness of an
action are based. It is the source of morality.
Where is this foundational moral principle? It is contained in the natural law.
Many moralists, authors and philosophers may have referred to this fundamental moral principle
in different terms. But it may be acceptable to all believers and non believers alike to refer to it
as natural law.
What is the natural law? It is the law “written in the hearts of men”,(Romans
2:15). For theists, it is man’s share in the Eternal Law of God. (Panizo, 1964) St. Thomas defines
it as the “light of natural reason, whereby we discern what is good and what is evil, an
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imprint on us of the divine light. (Panizo 1964) . It is the law that says: Do good and
avoid evil.” THIS IS THE FUNDAMENTAL OR FOUNDATIONAL MORAL PRINCIPLE.
All men and women, regardless of race and belief, have a sense of this
foundational moral principle. It is ingrained in a man’s nature. It is built into the design of human
nature and woven into the fabric of the normal human mind. “We are inclined to do what we
recognize as good and avoid that which we recognize as evil.
Panizo says :Writings, customs and monuments of past and present generations
point out to this conclusion: that all peoples on earth, no matter how savage and illiterate, have
recognized a supreme law of divine origin commanding good and forbidding evil. (Panizo 1964).
The same thing was said by the Chinese philosopher, Mencius, long ago:
All men have a mind which cannot bear (to see the suffering of others. If now
men suddenly see a child about to fall into a well, they will without exception experience a
feeling of alarm and distress. From this case we may perceive that he who lacks the feeling of
commiseration is not a man, that he who lacks a feeling of shame and dislike is not a man, he
who lacks a feeling of modesty and yielding is not a man and that he who lacks a sense of right
and wrong is not a man. Man has these four beginnings. ( FungYulan 1948,69-70)
The natural law that says “Do good and avoid evil” comes in different versions.
Kung-fu-tsu said the same when he taught: Do not do unto others what you do not like others do
unto you.” This is also the Golden Rule of Christianity only that is written in the positive form:
“Do to others what you like others do to you”. Immanuel Kant’s version is Act in such a
way that your maxim can be the maxim for all.” For Christians, this Golden Rule is made more
explicit through the Ten Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes. These are summed up in the
two great commandments, “love God with all your heart, with your entire mind, with all your
strength” and “love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The Buddhists state this
through the eightfold path. For the Buddhists, they go do good when they “(1) strive to
know the truth; (2) resolve to resist evil; (3) say nothing to hurt others; (4) respect life, morality,
and property; (5) engage in a job that does not injure others; (6) strive to free their mind of evil;
(7) control their feelings and thoughts, and (8) practice proper forms of concentration.”
(World Book Encyclopedia, 1998) Buddha thought that hatred does not cease by hatred;
hatred ceases only by love.” The Islamic Koran “forbids lying, stealing, adultery, and murder” It
also teaches “honor for parents, kindness to slaves, protection for the orphaned and the
widowed, and charity to the poor. It teaches the virtues of faith in God, patience, kindness,
honesty, industry, honor, courage and generosity. It condemns mistrust, impatience and
cruelty.” (World Book Encyclopedia,1998). Furthermore, the Muslims abide by The Five
Pillars of Islam: 1.prayer 2.self-purification by fasting 3. Fasting 4. almsgiving 5.
Pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can afford (www.
Islam101/dawal/pillars.html

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TEACHER AS A PERSON OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER

As a laid down in the preamble of our Code of Ethics of Professional teachers, “teachers
are duly licensed professionals who possess dignity and reputation with high moral values as
well as technical and professional competence. In the practice of their profession, they strictly
adhere to observe and practice this set of ethical and moral principles, standard and values.”
From the above preamble, the words moral values are mentioned twice, to
accentuate on the good moral character expected of you, the teacher. When are you of good
moral character? One Christian author describes four ways of describing good moral
character: 1) being fully human – you have realize substantially your potential as a human
person, 2) being a loving person- you are caring in an unselfish and mature manner with
yourself, other people and God 3) Being a virtuous person- you have acquired good
habits and attitudes and you practice them consistently in your daily life and 4) being a
morally mature person- you have reached a level of development emotionally, socially,
mentally, spiritually appropriate to your developmental stage. (Cosgrave, William, rev.
ed.2004, 78-79). In short, you are on the right track when you strive to develop your potential,
you love and care for yourself and make this love flow to others, you lead a virtuous life, and as
you advance in age you also advance in your emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual life.
The foundational moral principle is “ Do good; avoid evil”. This is contained in the
natural law. The natural law is engraved in the heart of every man and woman. We have in us the
sense to do the good that we ought to do and to avoid the evil that we ought to avoid. This
foundational moral principle of doing good and avoiding evil is expressed in many other ways by
different people. The famous Chinese philosopher, Kung-fu-tzu taught the same principle when
he said: Do not do unto others what you do not like others do to you.” Immanuel Kant taught the
same: Act in such a way that same moral principle in their Eightfold Path. The Muslims have this
foundational moral principle laid down in their Koran and the Five Pillars. For the Christians, the
Bible shows the way to the good life- the Ten Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes. The Ten
Commandments and the Eight Beatitudes are summarized in the two great commandments of
love for God and love for neighbor.
Our act is moral when it is in accordance with our human nature. Our act is immoral
when it is contrary to our human nature. Our intellect and free will make us different from and
above the beast.
As a teacher, you are expected to be a person of good moral character. You are a person
of good moral character when you are 1. Human 2. Loving 3. Virtuous 4. Mature.

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ACTIVITY: Test your understanding. Answer this as an output of your module.

A. Directions: Answer the following with a Yes or No. If your answer is No, explain your
answer.
-----1. Is morality for persons and animals?
-----2. Is the natural law known only by the learned?
-----3. Did the primitive people have a sense of the natural law?
-----4. Is an animalistic act of man moral?
-----5. Is it right to judge a dog to be immoral if it defecates right there in your garden?
-----6. Is the foundational moral principle sensed only by believers?
-----7. Is the foundational moral principle very specific?
-----8. Is the foundational moral the basis of more specific moral principles?
-----9. Is the foundational moral principle so called because it is the basic of all moral
principle?
-----10. Are the Ten Commandments for Christians more specific moral principles of the
foundational moral principle?
-----11. Is the natural law literarily engraved in every human heart?
-----12. Are the Five Pillars of Islam reflective of the natural law?
-----13. Is the Buddhist’s Eightfold Path in accordance with the natural law?
-----14. Is the Golden rule for Christians basically the same with Kung-fu-tsu’s
Reciprocity
rule?
B. Directions: Answer the following in a sentence or two.
1. To be moral is to be human. What does this mean?
2. Why is morality only for persons?
3. What do the following tell you about the natural law?
C. Journal Entry
1. “Do good; avoid evil” is the foundational moral principle. List at least 5 good things that
you have to do as a teacher and 5 evil things you have to avoid doing.
2. The Golden Rule for Christians is : Do to others what you would like others
do to you.” Give a concrete application of the Golden Rule as you relate to a learner, to a fellow
teacher, to a parent or any member of the community and to your superiors, members of the
community and to your superiors.
e.g. Speak well of your fellow teacher just as you want your fellow teacher to speak well of
you .”

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