Why does Society hold teachers to higher standards of moral and ethical behavior?

For me this was an easy question to answer; society holds teachers to higher standards of moral and ethical behavior because we are role models. Students spend approximately 7 hours a day, five days a week, nine months out of the year, in school. From their parents, many children learn the basis of what is right and wrong, and begin to learn to differentiate acceptable from unacceptable behaviors. When children begin to attend school, teachers become primary adult role models in their lives as well. Teachers have the opportunity to build upon the foundations that parents have already established. In some circumstances, teachers may even be the only positive adult role models a student will encounter in their lifetime. It is up to us to provide students with a living example both in and outside of the classroom. As teachers, whether we realize it or not, we are a huge influence on our students.
Not only are teachers role models for our students, but we are usually known within the community. Parents and other important people in our students’ lives also usually know who we are. Parents trust us with their children, and society trusts us to teach our students how to become productive members of that society. We are, or should be, teaching students life skills as well as academics. We are keepers of the future; we must remember that in the classroom and in life.