American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: October 2010

Teachers and  Coaches as Leaders Demonstrating Character and Competence
  Angela Lumpkin

Abstract: In a time of scandalous actions and  me-first behaviors, teachers and coaches as leaders of character and competence  are needed. Leaders have integrity and demonstrate their character by adhering  to moral principles and displaying moral values. The competence of leaders is  based on knowledge, skills, and abilities and enhanced by exploring varying  experiences, gaining new knowledge, and reflecting thoughtfully. The United  States Army’s leadership framework (Be…Know…Do) emphasizes the necessity of  character and competence, with “be” describing character, “know” describing  competence, and “do” describing actions taken based on character and  competence. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s  standards for teachers and coaches, as well as their codes of conduct or ethics  for professionals, similarly demonstrate the importance of character and  competence. Through four scenarios, teachers and coaches can examine realistic  ethical dilemmas. By exploring the issues in these scenarios, each individual  can reflect on what is believed and what actions should be taken when faced  with ethical challenges.

Article category: Professional Preparation