Teachers’ justification of ‘best interest of the child’ vs. loyalty to the colleagues.

The teachers’ justification of ”best interest of the child” vs loyalty to the colleaguesA recent study (Oma Ohnstad, 2008) deals with Norwegian teachers’ ”lived” professional ethics, what kind of dilemmas they identify, the way they report to cope with their experienced ethical dilemmas, and how they justify and argue for the chosen solutions. Very little research has been done concerning teachers’ justification and judgment in ethical dilemmas.The study, which is presented, shows that “the best interest of the child” is the teachers’ main justification. In spite of how the teachers openly express loyalty to the child, their solutions illuminate how loyalty to colleagues more often is given priority. This paper will discuss the teachers’ justification of ethical dilemmas especially to the loyalty of the child, and analyses different values and conflicting interests as part of teachers’ ethical decisions.