This monograph provides readings in ethical thought and professional ethics in educational administration, supplemented by case studies illustrating ethical problems administrators face. Comments on the field of ethics and the importance of administrative ethics introduce the booklet, along with background information about the booklet and suggestions for its use. Three chapters present the bulk of the discussion. First, obligations of administrators are identified, including legal obligations, "obligations of form," commitment to professional excellence, avoiding conflict of interest, formality, justice, loyalty, prudence, and whistle-blowing; the need for a binding code of ethics is argued. Second, traditional sources of moral values are discussed, including cynicism, hedonism, sophism, stoicism, and Machiavellianism; the idea of the "true believer" is also noted. Third, conflicting strains of ethical thought, and their development and implications, are examined. The chapter covers the institutionalization and acceptance of moral philosophies, the exercise of pure reason, revelation as a source of ethics, naturalistic moral philosophies, ethical systems based on empirical study of society, experimentalism, logical positivism, utilitarianism, existentialism, and other moral philosophies. Following a conclusion that summarizes the previous 3 chapters, appendixes present 18 case studies and the American Association of School Administrators' code of ethics. (MCG)