Abstract:

The sentiment of teacher ethics is a basic quality that teachers in China need to possess in the new era, but the academic community is not very clear about its connotation, significance, and constituent elements. Teachers’ ethical sentiment can be understood as teachers’ ethical consciousness and ideal sentiment of pursuing excellence. It is composed of two independent qualities: “professional ethics” and “educational sentiment”. “Professional ethics” refers to qualities teachers have that are closely related to teaching, including respecting students, being responsible for students, treating students in a fair way, and caring for students. “Educational sentiment” refers to the ideals and beliefs about teaching established by teachers, including believing that every child can succeed, recognizing the professionalism of teachers’ work, fulfilling their duties as teachers, being moral role models for students, fulfilling their duties, and being role models for society. Teachers’ ethical sentiment demonstrates a threefold significance: it is indispensable for teachers to carry out their work of educating people; it is the cornerstone of teachers’ professionalism, and teachers need to be accountable to the public if the teaching profession is to be respected; and it provides motivation for teachers to be competent in teaching, a job that is complex and full of uncertainty.

Key words: teacher competence, teacher professionalization, teacher professional ethics, educational sentiment