Scenario 2: “Don’t Let My Son Dress Up as a Girl!” Four-year-old Victor enjoys playing dress up in the dramatic play area. He is a quiet and reserved child who usually follows other children’s lead. But when engaging in dramatic play, Victor’s leadership shines as he collaboratively creates scenarios with his classmates. He is particularly adept at playing characters such as firemen, princesses, bumblebees, and moms. One day, Mr. Jackson, Victor’s father, who rarely comes to the center, arrives to pick up Victor and sees that he is in a pink princess costume. He curtly tells Marge, Victor’s teacher, that he does not want her to allow Victor to play in the dress-up area in the future. He then orders Victor to change, and they quickly leave.

Marge is taken aback by Mr. Jackson’s behavior.

The center is devoted to fostering relationships with all of its families, and Marge has recently made great strides in attracting Victor’s family to potlucks and school workdays. The staff collectively believe that in addition to building children’s imaginations, dramatic play enhances their social and communication skills and is an integral part of the learning process that gives children opportunities to develop abstract thinking, literacy, math, and social studies skills.

What should Marge, the ethical teacher, do?

Instructions

Work through the 6 step process for resolving ethical dilemmas. You should type your responses after the prompts below.

Identify the problem. ​​

Describe why the issues is a dilemma and not a responsibility.
Ethical responsibilities require early childhood educators to follow the Code’s clear mandates. Dilemmas, on the other hand, require them to make a choice between two or more defensible resolutions, each of which could be supported by relying on the Code.

State the dilemma

Identify the conflicting responsibilities to each of the stakeholders you are responsible towards.

Brainstorm possible resolutions

Describe how you will use Ethical Finesse—finding a way to meet all needs without having to make an undesirable decision.

Look for guidance in the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.

State which values you referenced to make your decisions.

State which values you referenced to make your decisions.

List 3 ideals connected to this issue. Write the number code and exact phrase of the ideals.

List 3 principles connected to this issue.. Write the number code and exact phrase of the principles.