Kathy Tullis
Ethics Conference Summer 2000
Ethics across the Curriculum Summer 2000 Workshop
Curriculum Ideas
Questions of Happiness
Declaration of Independence
How does this idea differ from the John Lock's and Thomas Hobbe's ideas
Does a government need to protect its citizens right to happiness?
What is happiness
Identify someone you know to be happy, what makes them happy.
Students are asked to write a two page paper discussing someone they have identified as happy and why they know they are happy. Also a discussions of the governments role in personal happiness needs to be included.
Minimum Morality
Dealing with many issues in history and in literature regarding the idea of minimum morality. What is minimum morality? Can we all agree? What constitutes minimum morality at Seattle Prep. Can all students agree? Enforceable?
Novel Project
Students choose a novel written by and about someone outside their culture. Before reading students fill out a social distance chart regarding the culture of focus in the novel. After they read the novel they fill out the same social distance chart and analyze if there initail impressions/attitudes regarding this culture have changed as a result of reading this novel. Students should articulate how they have changed for the better or worse using specific support from the novel. Next students could write a persuasive paper defending the value of reading the novel or defending keeping it out of the curriculum.
Film "The Crucible"
In conjunction with a unit on the Salem Witch trails, Scarlet Letter one could show the film The Crucible. Teacher can provide background information about Arthur Miller and the McCarthy trials prior to viewing the film . After watching the film students should be introduced to the four main ethical principles, beneficence, nonmaleficence etc. Teacher can ask whether John Proctor was acting ethically when he decided to give his own life by telling the truth. Which is a higher ethical value truth or life. what influenced his decision. Did he make the best decision? Students decide to agree or disagree with his decsion and seat themselves on one side of the room or the other. They face each other and discuss their rational for agreeing with John Protor or not. Teacher could follow up by asking if John had any other alternatives?