In return, they undertake to exercise those legal powers to ensure that professional services are given loyally and skillfully. Professionals profess to have special knowledge and skills. Professionals profess to apply their special knowledge and skills for the benefit of others. A lawyer professes to apply their special knowledge and skills for the protection of their clients rights under law. A physician professes to apply their special knowledge and skills for the protection of their patients health.
Teachers make similar professions.
As stated in the Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities for Teachers, a teacher provides personal caring service to pupils by diagnosing their needs and by planning, selecting and using methods and evaluation procedures designed to promote learning. Professionals individually and collectively have thus undertaken a special duty. It is a duty which is profoundly moral and ethical as well as legal. It is based on the trust invited by each individual professional. It is also based on a form of social contract between the profession as a whole and society.