Code of Ethics from National Association of Tutorial Services
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Tutor code
of ethics
The National Association of Tutorial Services uses the
following Tutor Code of Ethics, which is also adopted by the BSU TRIO Peer
Tutoring program: :
Subject proficiency, knowledge, and ability have top priority.
My major motivation is building the student's self-confidence.
My student deserves and will receive my total attention.
The language my student and I share must be mutually understood at all times.
I must be able to admit my own weaknesses and will seek assistance whenever I need it.
Respect for my student's personal dignity means I must accept that individual without judgment.
My student will constantly be encouraged but never insulted by false hope or empty flattery.
I will strive for a mutual relationship of openness and honesty as I tutor.
I will not impose my personal value system or lifestyle on my student.
I will not use a tutoring situation to proselytize my personal belief system.
Both the student and I will always understand my role is never to do the student's work.
I count on my student to also be my tutor and teach me ways to do a better job.
I will do my best to be punctual and keep appointments, not only out of courtesy, but also as an example for my student to follow.
I will maintain records, lesson plans, and progress data as expected and required.
I will do my best to stay abreast of the current literature about tutoring as it relates to my work.
Good tutoring enables my student to transfer learning from one situation to another.
Making learning real for the student is what tutoring means and is an important part of my goal.
My ultimate tutoring goal is my student's independence.
When developing your tutorial philosophy, you should consider this Code.
Why would adherence to these items promote successful tutoring?
Which items do you think are most important for a successful tutor?
What would you add to your own personal Code of Ethics?
Subject proficiency and knowledge have top priority in my task as a tutor.
My major motivation is building my student's self-confidence.
My student deserves and will receive my total attention.
The language my student and I share must be mutually understandable at all times.
I must be able to admit my own weaknesses and seek assistance whenever I need it.
Respect for my student's personal dignity means that I must accept that individual without judgment.
My student will constantly be encouraged but never insulted by false hope or empty flattery.
I will strive for a mutual relationship of openness and honesty as I tutor.
I will not impose my personal value system or lifestyle on my student
Both the student and I will understand that my role is never to do the student's work.
I count on my student to be my tutor, and to teach me ways to do a better job.
I will do my best to be punctual and keep appointments, not only out of courtesy but as an example for my student to follow.
I will maintain records and progress reports as expected and required.
I will help my student "learn how to learn" by helping him/her improve study skills.
I will remember that I may be a role model for someone; therefore, I should conduct myself in an appropriate manner at all times.
I will keep confidential any information that my student decides to share with me or that I have access to in the helping process.
My ultimate tutoring goal is my student's independence.
Sample Scenarios
A student comes in and tells you how overwhelmed she is feeling due to a divorce she is going through. She tells you that her class is in an hour and that her teacher has given a take-home midterm test that is due that day. She wants you to just tell her a few of the answers so that she can get the assignment done in time and promises that she will study the material more over the weekend. How do you respond?
A student shares a writing assignment with you regarding his stance against homosexuality, and decides to express his opinions to you verbally during your tutoring session as well. Your best friend happens to be a lesbian, so this situation is bothering you a lot. How do you handle the tutoring session?
What are some other scenarios that might test your ethics as a tutor?