Ethical Dilemmas Group 1 Amanda Baker Ana Garcia Kristin Littrell Aisha Malik Amy Powers Danyelle Williams

Case Study 1 The school music teacher is a devout Christian. She tends to choose music that has a Christian message, and the lyrics might occasionally refer to God or Jesus. A small number of students in the class are from diverse religious backgrounds and feel uncomfortable when singing these lyrics. Should the music teacher adjust her curriculum?

Texas Code of Ethics Standard 3.4 –The educator shall not exclude a student from participation in a program, deny benefits to a student, or grant an advantage to students on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, national origin, religion, or family status.

Relevant Court Cases and their Rulings Mozert vs. Hawkins County Public schools –Fundamentalist parents objected to including literature such as The Wizard of Oz, Rumpelstiltskin, and Macbeth in the curriculum, arguing that these works exposed children to feminism, witchcraft, pacifism, and vegetarianism. –A lower court supported the parents, but a higher federal court reversed the decision, asserting that accommodating every parent’s religious claims would “leave public education goals in shreds.” –It supported the right of districts to use religiously controversial materials if they were useful in achieving important educational goals. –When schools can show that learning materials have a clear purpose, such as exposing students to time-honored literature, parental subjections are usually overridden.

Persons & Groups Concerned Parents Students Administrators Other Teachers

Additional Information What religion(s) are the students in the classroom? Were the parents notified? Does it infringe on the teacher’s rights? Do the students have a valid concern or are they just trying to avoid class? Which students are being affected the most? What is the size of the school? What is the grade level of the students? What is the definition of religion? What religions are being represented in the community?

Alternatives Completely cut out any religious music Incorporate diverse religious music in the curriculum.

Consequences Disgruntled students The practice the students have done will have been wasted. Finding secular music Tension between different religions in the class Students won’t experience diversity The teacher is overworked because she has to find new music The teacher may no longer be as passionate about teaching Students suffer educationally Parent complaints Are we promoting atheism by removing religion from the music? What will be the economic cost of purchasing new music?

Resolution The teacher must resolve, and figure out if she needs to adjust her curriculum to meet the needs of her students.

Consequences for diverse music Purchasing new music Morale will go up because everyone’s beliefs will be included into the curriculum Promote diversity Future music teachers will have to follow this curriculum Students may feel upset about singing a variety of religious music that does not relate to their own Parents could be upset because all music will not reflect their beliefs

Actions Incorporate all religions into the curriculum

Action of decision and conformity to the Texas Code of Ethics We cannot exclude any student based on religion as per the Code of Ethics standard 3.4 –“The educator shall not exclude a student from participation in a program, deny benefits to a student, or grant an advantage to students on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, national origin, religion, or family status.”

Assume responsibility for the consequences I am aware of the Code of Ethics and am willing to meet with any parent that disagrees or has any concerns with the material taught in the class.

Negative consequences Parents or students would not want to participate in the curriculum

Plan for negative consequences/decisions Allow the students to choose what they would like to sing; the student(s) could always be removed from the class, and any parental concerns would be addressed.