CCP Professionalism and Ethics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct places the highest priority on the wellbeing of:
- Employers and program administrators
- Children (Correct answer)
- Families and communities
- The child care profession as a whole
Correct answer: Children
The NAEYC Code explicitly states that children's wellbeing is the paramount ethical obligation, above all other considerations.
Question 2: A director asks you to falsify attendance records to meet licensing numbers. The ethical response is to:
- Comply since the director has authority over you
- Falsify records only if no children are endangered
- Refuse and report the request to the appropriate licensing authority if needed (Correct answer)
- Quit immediately without reporting the misconduct
Correct answer: Refuse and report the request to the appropriate licensing authority if needed
Falsifying official records is unethical and illegal; refusing and reporting through proper channels upholds professional and legal obligations.
Question 3: Which describes the concept of 'reflective practice' in early childhood professionalism?
- Using mirrors during circle time to teach self-recognition
- Thoughtfully examining one's own actions and their impact to improve practice (Correct answer)
- Reflecting sunlight into the classroom for better lighting
- Reviewing policies written by other professionals
Correct answer: Thoughtfully examining one's own actions and their impact to improve practice
Reflective practice involves intentional self-examination of one's teaching and caregiving decisions to continually improve outcomes for children.
Question 4: A colleague shares confidential information about a child's family situation at a public restaurant. This violates which ethical principle?
- Beneficence
- Confidentiality (Correct answer)
- Competence
- Justice
Correct answer: Confidentiality
Discussing confidential family information in a public setting is a serious breach of confidentiality, a core ethical obligation in child care.
Question 5: Which best describes an 'ethical dilemma' in child care?
- A child who refuses to follow classroom rules
- A situation where two or more ethical values are in conflict with each other (Correct answer)
- A licensing violation discovered during a routine inspection
- A disagreement between co-workers about break schedules
Correct answer: A situation where two or more ethical values are in conflict with each other
An ethical dilemma occurs when two legitimate values — such as family privacy and child safety — conflict and neither choice is without cost.
Question 6: When setting up a professional portfolio, which item is most appropriate to include?
- Photos of individual children with their names displayed
- Copies of confidential family intake forms
- Documentation of professional development hours and training certificates (Correct answer)
- Paycheck stubs from previous employers
Correct answer: Documentation of professional development hours and training certificates
A professional portfolio should contain credentials, training records, and work samples that demonstrate professional growth without breaching confidentiality.
Question 7: A child care professional who advocates for better wages and working conditions for all early childhood educators is demonstrating:
- Self-promotion and inappropriate behavior
- Commitment to the profession and systemic improvement (Correct answer)
- Conflict of interest with employer obligations
- Violation of professional boundaries
Correct answer: Commitment to the profession and systemic improvement
Advocacy for improved professional conditions is recognized as a professional responsibility that strengthens the early childhood field as a whole.
CCP Professionalism and Ethics 3
The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct places the highest priority on the wellbeing of: