BAELLS Ethical Scenario

I will solve this dilemma using the following professional standard, “Values students’
native languages and cultures as the foundation for developing academic language proficiency”
(Tesol Press, 2020). I chose this standard because the scenario relates to language. Mexican
students are proficient in their native language; they are of Mexican origin. They are thus
struggling to learn and be proficient in English, which is a second language to them. The
standard I chose will be effective as it urges guides teachers on how to go about when dealing
with the development of academic language proficiency.
In solving this ethical dilemma, I would first introduce the professional standard to Ms.
Bart. I will explain to her that the students are not pretending but are struggling to develop
proficiency in their second language. I will then explain to Ms. Bart that the foundation of
helping students to develop proficiency in the academic language is first to appreciate and show
value for their native language. In this case, the students already think that their teacher hates
Mexicans. They feel that she does not value their native language. The teacher, on the other
hand, believes that the students are pretending. These are obstacles that will continue to hinder
effective learning and teaching. I will ask Ms. Bart to demonstrate to the students that she
appreciates their language, she understands that it is different from the academic language, and
would want to use what the students know, to help them understand the new language. I will also
talk to the students, reassure them that their teacher does not hate them and that she is trying to
help them acquire a new language, which is a process that will take time and requires patience.

Also, since I am a Language Arts teacher in the school, I will offer to take some of Ms.
Bart’s lessons and help her handle the challenge. Acquiring a second language and developing
proficiency in it can be quite a task. It requires consistency and patience from both the teacher
and the students. In this case, it is already proving to be difficult for Ms. Bart and her students.
Therefore, I will offer a helping hand and take some lessons to help them make progress. During
my lessons, I will talk to the students so that they can change their attitude towards the teacher.
Ethical Scenario
Mrs. Tom is a third-grade teacher. She has a class of twenty students. The teacher notes
that two of her students attend all other lessons, but during the English lesson, they are
conspicuously missing. She observes that this has been going on for some time now. After
asking the other students, they tell her that the two boys have been hiding in the play area during
the English lesson. She calls the boys, and they tell her that they miss the lesson because they
feel that the teacher teaches them what they already know. They had been getting bored during
English lessons, and they decided to skip the lessons and give other students a chance to learn.
Mrs. Tom is annoyed. She thinks that the students are arrogant. She decides to report the matter
to the school principal. It was a discipline case that needed the attention of the school authority.
What do you think Mrs. Tom should have done? Are the boys justified? How would you have
handled the matter?

References

Tesol Press. (2020). Item Detail – PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards –
Description. Retrieved 14 May 2020, from
https://sites.tesol.org/Bookstore/ItemDetail?iProductCode=318&Category=STANDARD
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