The document is a memorandum that gets progressively more distorted as it is passed down the chain of command in an educational institution regarding plans to observe Halley's Comet. The original memorandum from the Chairman of the Board instructs having students observe the comet in the football field if clear, or watching a film of it in the auditorium if raining. However, by the time it reaches the Academic Coordinators, key details have changed so that the Chairman will appear with the comet in the auditorium, and the comet may be ordered to the football field if raining.

1. The Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers in
Their Dual Role as
Educator and Parent.

2. Code of Ethics for Professional
Teachers adopted and promulgated
by the Board for Professional
Teachers through Board Resolution
No. 435, series of 1997, pursuant to
the provisions of paragraph (e),
Article II of RA No. 7836, otherwise
known as the ―Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994‖

3. VIOLATION OF CODE OF ETHICS
FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Article XII, Section 1--
―Any violation x x x
shall be sufficient
ground for the x x x
revocation of x x x
license x x x‖

4. TEACHERS AS PROFESSIONALS
Duly licensed professionals who
possess dignity and reputation with
high moral values as well as
technical and professional
competence.In the
practice of their noble profession,
they strictly adhere to observe, and
practice this set of ethical and moral
principles, standard and values.
(Preamble, Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers)

5. “Every teacher shall merit reasonable
social recognition for which purpose he shall
behave with honor and dignity at all times and
refrain from such activities as gambling,
smoking, drunkenness and other excesses,
much less illicit relations.”
(Code of Ethics, Article III, Section 3)
“A teacher shall place premium upon
self- respect and self-discipline as the
principle of personal behavior in
all relationships with others
and in all situations.”
(Code of Ethics, Article XI, Section 2)

6. “A teacher shall maintain at all times a
dignified personality which could serve as
model worthy of emulation by learners,
peers, and others.”
(Code of Ethics, Article XI, Section 3)

7. Joseph Santos vs. NLRC, Hagonoy Institute, Inc.
―As teacher, (one) serves as an example to
his/her pupils xxx.
Consequently xxx teachers must adhere to the
exacting standards of morality and decency.
xxx A teacher both in his official and
personal conduct must display exemplary
behavior.‖
He must freely and willingly accept
restrictions on his conduct that might be
viewed irksome xxx the personal behavior of
teachers, IN AND OUTSIDE THE
CLASSROOM, must be beyond
reproach xxx they must observe a high

8. standard of integrity and honesty.‖

9. TO ACT WITH HONOR:
To strictly honor contractual obligation
with the School
Art. VI, Sec. 6, Code of Ethics:
“A teacher who accepts a
position assumes a contractual
obligation to live up to his contract,
assuming full knowledge of the
employment terms and
conditions.”

10. DUTY OF TEACHERS
(Based on Law)
As an EDUCATOR
1987 Constitution states:
“x x x The State shall protect
and promote the right of all citizens
to quality education at all levels
and shall take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to
all.”
(Article XIV, Section
1)

11. As a PARENT
Article 218 of the Family Code provides—
“The school, its administrators and
teachers, x x x engaged in child care shall
have special parental authority and
responsibility over the minor child while
under their supervision, instruction or
custody.”
Article 219 of the Family Code provides—
“Those given the authority and
responsibility under (Article 218) shall
principally and solidarily liable for
damages caused by acts or omissions
of the unemancipated minor.”

12. Principal Duty or Obligation is To
Ensure “Quality Education”
What is QUALITY EDUCATION?
“x x x making sure that basic
education is really solid, because if it is
not solid, it affects the quality of
secondary education. If secondary
education is poor, then the person
goes tocollege unprepared for
college work. And if he is allowed to
graduate again with a poor quality
college education, he goes to
university professional education
even more

13. unprepared.”
- Rev. Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ

14. In short—
―A school, before promoting or
graduating a student, must be sure
that he/she (the student) is
functionally literate to go through
next higher level.‖

15. To ensure Quality Education:
1) Must be COMPETENT and EFFICIENT
Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers,
Article IV, Section 2—
“Every teacher shall uphold the
highest possible standards of
quality education, shall make the
best preparation for the career of
teaching, and shall be at his best at
all times in the practice of his
profession.”

16. BP 232 (Education Act of 1982), Section 16 (2)
provides—
“The teacher shall xxx be accountable
for efficient and effective attainment of
specified learning objectives xxx.”
Code of Ethics further mandates that—
“Every teacher shall participate in the
continuing professional education (CPE)
program of the PRC, and shall pursue
such other studies as will improve his
efficiency, enhance the prestige of the
profession, and strengthen his
competence, virtue and
productivity in order to be nationally and
internationally competitive.”

17. (Article IV, Section 3)

18. ―A teacher shall ensure
that conditions contributive
to the maximum
development of learners are
adequate and shall extend
assistance in preventing or
solving learners’ problems
and difficulties.‖
(Article IV, Section 3)

19. In short—
A teacher is expected to be efficient and
competent in the performance of his academic
duties at all times.
Otherwise,
A teacher who has consistently shows his
inability to efficiently perform his duties and
responsibilities, within a common performance
standards should not be allowed to stay in school
xxx.
The MRPS provides as just cause of
terminating a faculty—
―Gross inefficiency and incompetence in the
performance of his duties
xxx.‖

20. (Section 3 (a))

21. Hence, the SC held in Evelyn Peña vs. NLRC
that—
―x x x schools can set
high standards of
efficiency for its
teachers since quality
education is a mandate
of the Constitution xxx
security of tenure xxx
cannot be used to shield
incompetence.‖

22. 2) Must EVALUATE LEARNERS
(i) Duty to give grades/evaluation
Section 16(3) of BP 232, TEACHER
SHALL—
“Render regular reports on
performance of each student and to the
latter and to the latter’s parents and
guardians with specific suggestions for
improvement.”
and...
Must promptly render or give
grades. Otherwise, the unjustified or
unreasonable delay in giving grades
constitutes gross neglect of duty.

23. In the case of University of the East vs. Romeo A.
Jader, the SC declared—
“It is the contractual obligation of the
school (through the teachers) to
TIMELY INFORM AND FURNISH
sufficient notice and information to each
and every student as to whether he/she
had already complied with all the
requirements xxx.”
“The negligent act of a teacher who
fails to observe the rules of the
school, for instance, by not
promptly submitting a student’s grade is
not only imputable to the teacher but

24. is an act of the school being
his/her employer xxx.”

25. In evaluating/giving grades the following
rules of conduct must be observed—
Code of Ethics provides—
“A teacher has the duty to determine
the academic marks and the promotion of
learners in the subject they handle. Such
determination shall be in accordance
with generally accepted procedure
of evaluation and measurement
on case of any complaint,
teachers concerned shall
immediately take appropriate action,
observing the process.”
(Article VIII, Section 1)

26. “Under no circumstances shall a
teacher be prejudiced nor discriminatory
against any learner.”
(Article VIII, Section 3)
“A teacher shall not accept favors or
gifts from learners, their parents or others
in their behalf in exchange for requested
concessions, especially if undeserved.”
(Article VIII, Section 4)
“A teacher shall base the evaluation of
the learner’s work on merit and quality of
academic performance.”
(Article VIII, Section 6)

27. (i) In computing the grades
Section 16 (5) of BP 232 mandates
that a teacher shall—
―Refrain from making deductions or
additions in student’s scholastic ratings for
acts that are clearly not manifestations of
xxx scholarship.‖
Hence, Section 79 of the MRPS—
―Basis for Grading. – The xxx grade or
rating xxx ina student should be based
SOLELY on his scholastic performance. Any
addition or diminution to the grade in a
subject for co-curricular activities, attendance,
or misconduct shall NOT be allowed xxx.‖

28. Code of Ethics provides—
―A teacher shall not xxx make deductions
from their scholastic ratings as a punishment for
acts which are clearly not manifestations of poor
scholarship.‖
(Article VIII, Section 8)
Thus, it is not a matter of discretion on the part
of the teachers in the giving of the students’
grades, but rather it is a clear obligation for
the teachers to determine student academic
marks solely based on scholastic
performance. For a teacher to do
otherwise, would be serious academic
malpractice or grave misconduct in the
performance of his/her duties.

29. In Padilla vs. NLRC, SBC the Supreme Court
said—
“This Court is convinced that the
pressure and influence exerted by
(a teacher) on his colleague to
change a failing grade to
passing one xxx constituteserious
misconduct which is a valid

30. ground for dismissing an
employee.”

31. B. As a PARENT: Principal Duty to Exercise
Parental Authority and Responsibility
Article 218, Family Code provides—
“The school, its administrators and
teachers xxx engaged in child care
shall have special parental authority
and responsibility over the minor
child while under their supervision,
instruction or custody.”

32. Code of Ethics states—
“A teacher shall recognize that
the interest and welfare of
learners are his first and
foremost concern, and shall
handle each learner justly
and impartially.”
(Article VII, Section 2)

33. Parental Authority to Discipline
“As parents, the teachers shall use
discipline not to punish but to correct,
not to force, but to motivate; and not
to obey with rigid cadence, but to
choose to follow the right way.
Hence, teachers cannot generally
use methods of punishing or such
degree of penalties that a good
mother or a good father would not likely
use on her/his own children.”

34. Corporal Punishment - Article 233 (2nd par.)
“In no case x x x inflict corporal
punishment upon the child.”
Definition: An act that inflict pain or
harm upon a child’s
body as punishment for
wrong doing usually through beating
and spanking
Elements:
(a) physical contact
(b) to inflict pain

35.  VIII,8. A teacher shall
not inflict corporal
punishment on
offending learners nor
make deductions
from their scholastic
ratings as a
punishment for acts
which are clearly not
manifestations of
poor scholarship.

36. Sale of Tickets; Collection of Contribution/
Donations from Pupils / Parents
BP 232, Sec. 9 (9) - students have right to
be free from (voluntary) involuntary
contributions
 Improper or unauthorized
solicitation of contributions from
subordinate employees and by
teachers or school officials from
school children
 VIII, 5. A teacher shall not accept,
directly or indirectly, any remuneration
from tutorials other than what is
authorized for such service.

37. Anita Y. Salvarria vs. Letran College, et al.
(296 SCRA 184)
The Supreme Court declared--
“Petitioner contended that her
dismissal was arbitrarily xxx, having
been effected without just cause, on
the premise that the solicitation of
funds xxx was initiatedby the
students and that her participation
was merely limited to approving the
same. xxx”

38. If there is one person more
knowledgeable of xxx policy against
illegal exactions from students, it
would be xxx Salavarria.
Hence, regardless of who
initiated the collections, the
fact that the same
was approved or indorsed by
petitioner, made her „in effect the
author of the project.‟”

39. “xxx (Department of Education)
considers the act of teachers in xxx
contracting loans from parents of their
students xxx not only serious
misconduct but xxx violation of students‟
right to be free from involuntary
contribution xxx.”
- USEC Nachura, 13 Feb. ‘98

40. Parental Responsibility
The student / pupil while in
school, is in the
custody and hence, the
responsibility of the school authorities
as long as he is under the control and
influence of the school,
whether the semester
has not yet begun
or has already ended.

41. In Amadora vs. CA, the Supreme
Even if the student is just
relaxing in the campus in the
company of his classmates, x x
x the student is still
within the custody and subject to the
discipline and responsibility of the
teachers x x x.

42. Hence--
A teacher required to exercise
special parental authority but who
fails to observe all the diligence
of a good father of a familyin
the custody and care of the
pupils and students,shall be
held liable for gross neglect of
duty.

43. “The Court takes this opportunity to
pay a sincere tribute to the school
teachers, who are always at the forefront
in the battle against illiteracy and
ignorance. If only because it is they
who open the minds of their pupils
to an unexplored world awash will
the magic of letters and numbers,
which is an extraordinary feat
indeed, these humble mentors
deserve all our respect and
appreciation.” Justice Isagani A. Cruz
Chiang Kai Shek School vs. CA
G.R. No. 58028, April 18, 1989

44. Halley’s Comet
A memorandum, as it goes
down the chain of command
in an educational institution.

45. SUBJECT : Operation Halley’s Comet
FROM : Chairman of the Board of Trustees
TO : The President
Tomorrow evening at approximately eight
(8) p.m., Halley‟s Comet will be visible in this
area, an event which occurs only once every
seventy five (75) years. Have the
students fall out in the football field in
uniforms and I will explain thisrare
phenomenon to them. In caseof
rain, we will not beableto see
anything, so assemble the students in the
auditorium and I will show them film of it.

46. FROM : The President
TO : Vice President for Academic Affairs
By order of the Chairman of the Board,
tomorrow, at eight in the evening, Halley‟s
Comet will appear above the football field,
if it rains, fall the students out in uniforms.
Then lead them to the auditorium where
the rare phenomenon will take place,
something which occurs only once every
seventy five years.

47. FROM : Vice President for
Academic Affairs
TO : College Dean
By order of the Chairman of the Board,
in uniform, at eight o‟clock in the
evening tomorrow, the phenomenal
Halley‟s Comet will appear in the
auditorium. In case of rain
in the football field, the Chairman of
the Board will give another order,
something which occurs once every
seventy five years.aria

48. FROM : Dean of College
TO : Academic Coordinators
Tomorrow at eight o‟clock in the
evening, the Chairman of the Board will
appear in the auditorium with Halley‟s
Comet, something which happens every
seventy-five years. If it rains, the
Chairman of the Board will order the
COMET into the football area in uniform.

49. FROM : Academic Coordinators
TO : Department Heads
When it rains tomorrow at eight in the
evening, the phenomenal, seventy-five
year old Chairman Halley, accompanied
by the President will drive his Comet
thru the football field area theater in
uniform.

50. -END-