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Teacher's Oath A Teacher's Oath is an oath taken in some countries by teachers. In 1993, the German educator Hartmut von Hentig designed the Socratic Oath, which is supposed to be a set of professional guidelines for educators, teachers and paedagogues. In 2022, after the COVID-19 pandemic effected some dramatic changes in the world and in the education system, the German educator Klaus Zierer published a renewal of the Socratic Oath, which is based on the research of the educator John Hattie and has not only a theoretical approach but also an empirical base.[1] Today there are many different versions of the Teacher's Oath, for example the Comenius Oath in Finland,[2][3][4] Teachers' Oath Taking in Philippines,[5] Abdul Kalam Teachers Oath in India,[6] Teachers Pledge in Singapore[7] and Betimi i Mësuesit in Kosovo.[8] Since 1863, nearly two-thirds of US states have adopted loyalty oaths for teachers.[9] The Massachusetts Teachers' Oath was a loyalty oath required to teach in Massachusetts from 1935 to 1967. Socratic Oath
Other versionsAs a teacher, I commit myself to directing all my feelings, thoughts and actions in my profession towards the well-being of the children entrusted to me. I commit myself to the children, - to challenge and support each child according to his or her potential and level of development, - not to leave any child behind or to write them off, no matter what the reasons are, - to take the failure of the children entrusted to me again and again as an opportunity for new ways of teaching, - to see mistakes as an opportunity, not as a flaw, - to set challenges in the educational process so that underachallenge and overchallenge do not occur, - to look for, pick up and awaken motivations, - to enter into dialogue again and again, to give and receive feedback, to ask questions and to listen, - to attribute a serving function to subjects in the educational process, - to address and stimulate all areas of the personality, - to give confidence in the world and in oneself and to make it visible on a daily basis, - to understand and shape the class and the school as a welcoming place, - to provide for an appreciative, fear-free and educationally effective atmosphere and relationship, and - to stand up for the physical, mental and spiritual integrity of the children entrusted to me. I commit myself to the parents - to communicate at eye level and to build up an educational partnership, - to understand the educational process of the children as a common task, - not only to be prepared to talk to them regularly, but also to actively seek contact with them, and - to take their assessments of the children's educational success and progress seriously and to combine them with their own views. I commit myself to my colleagues, - to share my experiences in education and teaching and to use them as a basis for collegial professionalisation, - to share and reflect together on the mistakes made every day, - to reflect back on successful moments in school and to give mutual recognition, and - to allow everyone their individual perspective on school and teaching while working towards a shared vision. I commit myself to the educational public, - to accept the educational mandate and to implement it at all times, - not only to impart knowledge and skills, but to focus on and promote all areas of the personality, - to subordinate all subjects to the well-being of the child and thus to the educational mission, - to be loyal but not blind to official guidelines, - to implement everything that serves the best interests of the children and to reject everything that is contrary to the best interests of the child, - to critically question, and if necessary publicly denounce and reject, any interests and demands on school and teaching that are not primarily in the best interests of the child, and - to give a voice to children and their right to education in public discourse. I commit myself to society, - to see respect for human dignity as the basis and goal of school and education, - to teach the principles of our democracy and to defend them in school and in teaching, - to see school as a place of reproduction and innovation of social values, - to use my pedagogical freedom to place current issues at the centre of everyday school life, and - to be not only reactive but also proactive towards the further development of our society. To myself I commit myself, - to justify my actions at all times, to discuss them critically and constructively and to reflect on them conscientiously, - to regularly develop my professional, pedagogical and didactic competences, - regularly reflect on my professional attitudes, and - to always fulfil my role as a role model to the best of my knowledge and belief. I confirm what has been said by my willingness to be measured at all times against the standards that emanate from this commitment. ~ Klaus Zierer - 2022 [12] See alsoReferences
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