A commitment to practice in an exemplary way means staying abreast of the latest research in practice, examining one's own teaching, experimenting with new approaches, and sharing one's insights. In other words, becoming a reflective practitioner. By working with numerous variables and their interaction, teachers develop increasing skills in decision-making. The ultimate goal of professional practice is for teachers to move toward empowerment and accept responsibility for their own professional growth. A commitment to practice toward valued social ends recognizes the interface between teaching and the social good.
Professionalism is grounded in the cultivation of beneficial human relationships.
Commitment to the social value of teaching and ideal of service is as fundamental to American education as the Hippocratic ideal is to medicine. This end offers education transformative power by engaging students in the study of issues now facing society. The ethic of caring requires a shift away from generalized and impersonal professional techniques toward a model acknowledging that education is an individual accomplishment. More attention is given than in the past to understanding student differences and developing strategies to address a diversity of learning styles. Because positive relationships tend to lead to the best outcomes, professional teachers must build a caring environment if learning is to take place.