Ethical Dilemmas: A Problematic Situation for Teachers

During the decision-making process, finding two or more ethically correct alternative solutions is known as facing an ethical dilemma. The current study aimed to determine ethical dilemmas faced by teachers in high schools in Turkey. The study uses a qualitative research method. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview technique. A descriptive analysis method was used in analyzing the data. In the data, 6 main themes were found; individualized education, school regulations, administrators, parents, colleagues, and democratic & social values. Situations causing ethical dilemmas are the centralized curriculum, the testing system, the disciplinary system, class-size and class culture, because of a lack of suitability for individualized education. Other situations causing ethical dilemmas are related to complying with the administrators or school regulations; showing or not showing compassion to parents, students and colleagues; and the disagreement between democratic values ​​and society's values.