MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS: MAY YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE PRESENTED FOR CLASS BY MRS. DAVIS

MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS HOW CAN WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE AND ETHICAL? HOW DO WE LEARN TO DISCERN, LISTEN TO OUR CONSCIENCE & MAKE MOGO (MOST GOOD, LEAST HARM) CHOICES IN REAL-LIFE & IN STORIES? HOW DO MORAL DILEMMAS FIT INTO BOOK’S THEMES-MAIN IDEAS?

WHAT DOES “MAY YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE” MEAN?

PINOCCHIO & JIMINY CRICKET NOkcEgM NOkcEgM

PINOCCHIO Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow And if your whistle's weak, yell, "Jiminy Cricket!" Right! Take the straight and narrow path And if you start to slide Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle! And always let your conscience be your guide

ALWAYS LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle! When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong Give a little whistle! Give a little whistle!

WHAT DOES “MAY YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE” MEAN?

MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS… Whether or not we realize it at the time, all our words, actions and attitudes reflect choices. A foundation to good decision making is acceptance of two core principles: We all have the power to decide what we do and what we say. We are morally responsible for the consequences of our choices.

Recognizing Important Decisions To help identify important decisions, ask yourself these four questions: Could you or someone else suffer physical harm? Could you or someone else suffer serious emotional pain?

Recognizing Important Decisions Could the decision hurt your reputation, undermine your credibility or damage important relationships? Could the decision impede the achievement of any important goal?

STAKEHOLDERS:WHO IS IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISIONS?

Stakeholders: Who is impacted by your decision? Each person affected by a decision has a stake in the decision and a moral claim on the decision maker. Good decisions take into account the possible consequences of words and actions on all those potentially affected by a decision (“stakeholders.”) Being thoughtful or considerate about the way our choices affect others is part of the stakeholder concept. Another is to be systematic in thinking about whom a decision could affect. The stakeholder concept reinforces our obligation to make all reasonable efforts to foresee possible consequences and take reasonable steps to avoid unjustified harm to others.

Good Decisions Are Both Ethical and Effective Ethical Decisions: A decision is ethical when it is consistent with the six pillars of character. Ethical decisions generate and sustain trust, demonstrate respect, responsibility, fairness and caring and are consistent with good citizenship. If we lie to get something we want and get it, the decision might well be called effective. But it is also unethical. Effective Decisions: A decision is effective if it accomplishes something we want to happen, if it advances our purposes. A simple test is: are you satisfied with the results? A choice that produces unintended and undesirable results is ineffective.

Discernment and Discipline There are two critical aspects to ethically sound decisions: knowing what to do and doing it. Discernment: The first requirement of good decisions is discernment. It requires knowledge and judgment. Discipline: Good decisions also require discipline, the strength of character to do what should be done even when it is costly or uncomfortable. It is not enough that we know the difference between what is right or wrong. We must follow the right course or action. This often takes will power or moral courage; the willingness to do the right thing even when it is inconvenient, scary, difficult or costly.

MORAL DILEMMAS A dilemma is… a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives. A moral is a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. A moral dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral reasons for choosing each action. It's not always easy to solve a moral dilemma. They are often complicated, with a lot at stake for several parties involved. It's important to take a slow and methodical approach to a moral dilemma. a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.

“FRIENDLY” MORAL DILEMMAS If your best friend proudly gave you a picture she had painted and you didn't like the painting, would you put it on the wall in your house? You have accepted an invitation to a friend's party. Then you are invited to a much more fun party. Would you think of an excuse not to go to your friend's party If you found a diary that a friend had left at your house, would you read it?

ROBIN HOOD MORAL DILEMMA: WHAT WOULD YOU DO & WHY? You have witnessed a man rob a bank, but then, he did something completely unusual and unexpected with the money. He donated it to an orphanage that was poor, run-down and lacking in proper food, care, water and amenities. The sum of money would be a great benefit to the orphanage, and the children’s lives would turn from poor to prosperous.

ROBIN HOOD MORAL DILEMMA: WHAT WOULD YOU DO & WHY? Would you: a: Call the police and report the robber, even though they would likely take the money away from the orphanage, or b: Do nothing and leave the robber and the orphans alone?

MORAL DILEMMA IN LITERATURE Remember a time when you had to make a choice and each option was equally unpleasant? Perhaps you lied to your parents and something terrible happened because of it only to be faced with the task of divulging the truth and getting punished for lying or face the grim fate of what has occurred because of the lie. This predicament is called a Dilemma: a situation that challenges an agreeable solution. In literature Dilemmas form the main conflict many protagonists encounter.

MORAL DILEMMAS IN STORIES

TUCK EVERLASTING Winnie must choose whether to drink from a spring that would allow her to stay her present age forever. The choice is not as easy as one might first think, and Winnie must grapple with important questions about what life-and death-really is.

ON MY HONOR Joel and Tony had been warned never to go near the river. When Tony challenges Joel to swim, and Tony ends up disappearing, Joel is faced with the decision of whether to tell the truth. This novel also deals with the responsibility of moral decision-making transferring from the parent to the child, as the child matures.

SHILOH When a boy learns that the dog Shiloh is being abused by his owner, he must decide what to do. When should you mind your own business? When should you take action? What should you do when the law is wrong?

TURN & TALK ABOUT A MORAL DILEMMA FACING A CHARACTER IN A BOOK YOU HAVE READ What moral dilemma is the main character facing? What were the choices?

MORAL DILEMMAS IN OUR CIVIL RIGHTS BOOK CLUB STORIES What is the moral dilemma facing the main character? Make sure you provide evidence from the text. Is the decision the main character makes both ethical & effective? Explain why or why not. Make sure you address the pillars of character involved. Tell how each one applies or is violated.

MORAL DILEMMAS IN OUR CIVIL RIGHTS BOOK CLUB STORIES Who are the stakeholders involved? Tell how each one is impacted or could be impacted by the decision. Was the main character able to discern and use good judgment? Explain. Did the main character have the discipline to do “the right thing?” Explain. What is the main idea-theme of the story? How does the moral dilemma fit into the theme or main idea? Are there any additional questions- wonderings you have regarding this ethical model? Jot them down.

ASSESSING OUR LEARNING: IN A PARAGRAPH OR LESS, SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU LEARNED TODAY ABOUT MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS & DESCRIBE ITS RELEVANCY IN REAL-LIFE & STORIES.

RESPONSE TO LITERATURE USING ETHICAL MODEL WE WILL REVIEW ACTIVITY AND RUBRIC.