In this study, from a list of ethical "do's" and "don't's" for teachers, four categories of ethical issues emerged: competence, professional relationships, confidentiality, and conflicts of interest. Competence embodies both negative and positive aspects, as teachers not only must refrain from doing the wrong thing but also must work to enhance the level of effectiveness in their own teaching and in the profession. In the professional relationships category, courtesy is basic. It is grounded in an attitude of respect and patience with co-workers, school administrators, students, and parents. But, while the reverse of courtesy is being overly critical of others in the school setting, teachers must still be able to offer constructive criticism to school administrators and other teachers. Dilemmas of confidentiality should be solved by considering the surrounding facts, common sense approaches, and the actions that would be in the best interest of all parties involved. Finally, while avoiding even the appearance of an activity that might lead to a misunderstanding of what is proper may not always be possible, it is a goal that will relieve conflicts of interest in most professional situations. (Contains 12 references.) (ND)