According to the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Code of Ethics, which principle of professional practice should be addressed when a teacher copies a presentation and represents it as original work?

• A. Respect for Diversity
• B. Professional Responsibility
• C. Integrity
• D. Fairness

Answer: (C)

Integrity means honesty and truthfulness in professional practice. Copying a presentation and presenting it as original work violates that trust because it awards credit for work you did not create—a form of plagiarism. The AAFCS Code of Ethics centers integrity, guiding teachers to acknowledge sources, avoid misrepresentation, and uphold honest standards in their work. When this happens, it undermines your credibility and the profession. Other principles—such as respect for diversity, professional responsibility, or fairness—cover important ethical areas, but they don’t address the issue of authorship and honesty as directly as integrity does.