::: SJS Blog Project :::

For those who you who missed Les Miserables 2 weekends ago, here’s an ethical dilemma from the musical.

“Jean Valjean’s Conscience”

In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the hero, Jean Valjean, is an ex-convict, living illegally under an assumed name and wanted for a robbery he committed many years ago. [Actually, no -- he is only wanted for breaking parole.] Although he will be returned to the galleys — probably [in fact, actually] for life — if he is caught, he is a good man who does not deserve to be punished. He has established himself in a town, becoming mayor and a public benefactor. One day, Jean learns that another man, a vagabond, has been arrested for a minor crime and identified as Jean Valjean. Jean is first tempted to remain quiet, reasoning to himself that since he had nothing to do with the false identification of this hapless vagabond, he has no obligation to save him. Perhaps this man’s false identification, Jean reflects, is “an act of Providence meant to save me.” Upon reflection, however, Jean judges such reasoning “monstrous and hypocritical.” He now feels certain that it is his duty to reveal his identity, regardless of the disastrous personal consequences. His resolve is disturbed, however, as he reflects on the irreparable harm his return to the galleys will mean to so many people who depend upon him for their livelihood — especially troubling in the case of a helpless woman and her small child to whom he feels a special obligation. He now reproaches himself for being too selfish, for thinking only of his own conscience and not of others. The right thing to do, he now claims to himself, is to remain quiet, to continue making money and using it to help others. The vagabond, he comforts himself, is not a worthy person, anyway. Still unconvinced and tormented by the need to decide, Jean goes to the trial and confesses.

1. Did he do the right thing?  Why?  Why not?
2. What do you think?

For activity #5 — you will create an online word processing account with WRITELY - www.writely.com.

If you already have an account, then go ahead and help others.

Directions:

1. Open a new TAB - (Ctrl + T) then go to www.writely.com on that other tab. Keep this blog on this tab so you can go back and forth between instructions and work area.
2. If you have a GMail account or a Google account, then enter that information in the upper middle right side of the page.
3. If you DO NOT have a GMail account or a Google account, then sign up for one. Click on the link “Create a Google Account” in the lower right side of the page.
4. You need to enter a current email address (Yahoo Mail, Gaggle, etc.)
5. Then choose a password that YOU WILL REMEMBER and enter it twice.
6. Then type in your FIRST name then LAST name in the spaces.
7. Then you’ll see a graphic image — which is actually a word. Type that word in the space provided — letters are NOT case-sensitive so you can type in upper or lower case.
8. Once everything has been entered, click on the button: “I accept. Create my account.”
9. A new account will be created for you.
10. You then have to go to your current email address (the one you typed in the page above) to check your email. Look for an email from Google and click on the verification link. This will verify that you actually signed up for a Google account. Once you do this, you will be able to login to WRITELY — which is actually owned by Google.
11. Once you successfully sign in, you will see an editing screen that looks like a typical word processing program.
12. Wait for instructions at this point.
13. If you come across problems at any point above, ask your seatmate or me for assistance. Try to solve things on your own first, then ask for help if stuck.

Having an online word processing account is very handy. You can go into the internjet anytime to access your files online. JUST MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR USERNAME and PASSWORD SAFE! You don’t want anyone snooping in your account and messing around with your files. Also, LOGOUT once you’re done working on a computer.

With an online word processing service, you can easily create files as if it were a program on a typical computer. The great thing is the ability to save somewhere on the internet! Your files need not be stored in flash drives that could get lost or erased — and you can access your files in whatever computer that has internet access.

Try to use your WRITELY account in school. Then blog about your experiences.

1. As you begin to use this online word processing program, what are the benefits that you can see in such use?
2. What are the challenges in using an online word processing service?
3. What do you like about it?
4. What don’t you like about the idea and service?
5. What could you do to improve on this concept / service?
6. Do you know of any other online word processing service out there? (I’d like you to stick to this one — WRITELY — a.k.a. - Google Docs. But I’d like you to search for other online word processing services. Blog about these services — write a little bit about these, include links to the services.

Here’s an ethical dilemma from http://www.goodcharacter.com.  Read it through and answer the questions at the bottom through your blog.  Be honest and natural in your answers.  Please answer in full, complete sentences.

Sam knew something was weird the second he got to class on Tuesday morning. He saw kids whispering and pointing at him. Some were looking at him funny. He sat down next to his best friend and picked up the graded report the teacher, Mr. Crosby, had graded over the weekend. Sam looked at the ” A-“ and forgot about the rest of the class for a minute. He had worked hard at that report and was thrilled it had paid off. He looked up and saw a bunch of kids staring at him. While the teacher cleaned up the white board, Sam whispered to Dylan, “ What’s going on?” Dylan, looked down and said quietly, “Conner told everyone you copied your report from the internet.” “ But, that’s a lie!” Sam said. “I never cheat and everyone knows it.” He was hurt and angry. He couldn’t focus the rest of the morning in class.

At recess he went up to Conner and asked him if he had really told everyone he had cheated. “ It’s no big deal,” Conner scoffed. “ I only told a few people. Lighten up. It was just a joke.” Sam turned and walked away. He wanted to yell at Conner, or hit him, or something. He just wanted to make Conner feel as bad as Conner had made him feel.

For the next two days, Sam avoided Conner but Sam and Dylan made up as many lies as they could think of about Conner to get back at him. They told kids that he was jealous of anyone who did well in school because he almost failed fourth grade last year. They told the girl Conner liked that he still wet his bed sometimes. But it wasn’t helping. Sam was still just as mad at Conner. In fact, all he thought about now was Conner and what he had done.

On Friday, Mr. Crosby had all three boys stay to talk with him during recess. He told them they had until the end of recess to work out whatever it was that was going on between them. If they had not all forgiven each other by the end of recess, they had to go to the principal’s office. Then Mr. Crosby left the classroom.

The three boys stared angrily at each other waiting for someone to say something. Sam didn’t know what to say. All he knew was that he was tired of being mad and hurt. What could he do to make it stop? And what did Mr. Crosby mean by all forgive each other?

Guide questions:

1. Do you think all three boys need to apologize? Why or why not?
2. Who do you think is the most guilty of doing wrong. Why?
3. Do you think it will improve their friendship if Sam forgives Conner?
4. Have you ever been in a position like this? What happened? Would you make the same choices if you were in the position again?
5. Is there someone in your life right now that you might need to forgive for something?
6. What does it feel like to forgive someone? Why do you think that is?

Here’s an ethical dilemma from http://www.goodcharacter.com.  Read it through and answer the questions at the bottom through your blog.  Be honest and natural in your answers.  Please answer in full, complete sentences.

Maya knew she was busted as soon as she saw the school’s Assistant Principal walking toward her. She was at her friend’s school dance and they had gone to a “pre-party” beforehand. Maya wasn’t a big partier but she had shared a couple of drinks with some of her friends and now was about to be busted. The Assistant Principal approached her and said that she looked like she was unsteady on her feet. Maya tried the think fast and replied that she had played in a soccer game that day and was sore. The Assistant Principal then asked for her name and what school she went to, and commented that she smelled alcohol on Maya’s breath. Maya told her what school she was from and that she had not been drinking. The Assistant Principal began to explain that she would have to call Maya’s school the next day with her suspicions but was interrupted by a group of students. As she turned to answer them, Maya slipped out the door of the school.

Maya was panicked. She was pretty sure the Assistant Principal would have no trouble finding out her name. Her friend came out to find her and told her to stay calm. Her friend explained that the Assistant Principal probably wouldn’t even call and that she couldn’t be busted because she didn’t break any rule on her own school campus. This might have calmed another seventeen year old down but not Maya. Both teachers and peers respected her at her school for her academics and her integrity.  She volunteered every weekend in her neighborhood Head Start program and was captain of the varsity soccer team. She felt like she would let so many people down if they found out what she had done. She already felt like she had let herself down. She had so far to fall. Why did she have to risk it all in such a stupid way?

Maya couldn’t believe this was happening. She felt like she was watching herself. She would do anything to take back those drinks now, but thinking like that was wasting time. If her parents found out, she could kiss her social life good bye. If her teachers found out, they would all look at her differently. Her friend’s advice was to do nothing and hope that Maya’s school wouldn’t get a call from the Assistant Principal. If she did, then she could either deny it, or come clean. But, there was no sense in turning herself in at this point. That seemed like a big gamble to Maya. Still panicked, Maya tried examining her choices and playing them out. For example, if she were to go talk to the Assistant Principal at her own school before she received the phone call, that action would be consistent with the character and integrity she showed her school community. That might lessen the consequences or, at least, alleviate the fear and guilt that was freaking her out. On the other hand, she had broken no school rules on her own campus or school sponsored event. Would she be creating drama where there might never be drama?  Maya was confused and overwhelmed. She needed to come up with an action plan before school tomorrow.

1. If you were Maya’s best friend and had her best interest at heart, what would you suggest she do?
2. If you were her parent, what do you think you would suggest she do?
3. What would she have to lose if she turned herself in?
4. What would she have to lose if she didn’t?
5. Have you or someone you know ever been in a similar situation to this? What happened and how did it turn out? Did you or that person feel regret or pride in the choice made?
6. Do any of you feel Maya is over reacting to this situation? Why or why not?

Here’s an ethical dilemma from http://www.goodcharacter.com.  Read it through and answer the questions at the bottom through your blog.  Be honest and natural in your answers.  Please answer in full, complete sentences.

Maya knew she was busted as soon as she saw the school’s Assistant Principal walking toward her. She was at her friend’s school dance and they had gone to a “pre-party” beforehand. Maya wasn’t a big partier but she had shared a couple of drinks with some of her friends and now was about to be busted. The Assistant Principal approached her and said that she looked like she was unsteady on her feet. Maya tried the think fast and replied that she had played in a soccer game that day and was sore. The Assistant Principal then asked for her name and what school she went to, and commented that she smelled alcohol on Maya’s breath. Maya told her what school she was from and that she had not been drinking. The Assistant Principal began to explain that she would have to call Maya’s school the next day with her suspicions but was interrupted by a group of students. As she turned to answer them, Maya slipped out the door of the school.

Maya was panicked. She was pretty sure the Assistant Principal would have no trouble finding out her name. Her friend came out to find her and told her to stay calm. Her friend explained that the Assistant Principal probably wouldn’t even call and that she couldn’t be busted because she didn’t break any rule on her own school campus. This might have calmed another seventeen year old down but not Maya. Both teachers and peers respected her at her school for her academics and her integrity.  She volunteered every weekend in her neighborhood Head Start program and was captain of the varsity soccer team. She felt like she would let so many people down if they found out what she had done. She already felt like she had let herself down. She had so far to fall. Why did she have to risk it all in such a stupid way?

Maya couldn’t believe this was happening. She felt like she was watching herself. She would do anything to take back those drinks now, but thinking like that was wasting time. If her parents found out, she could kiss her social life good bye. If her teachers found out, they would all look at her differently. Her friend’s advice was to do nothing and hope that Maya’s school wouldn’t get a call from the Assistant Principal. If she did, then she could either deny it, or come clean. But, there was no sense in turning herself in at this point. That seemed like a big gamble to Maya. Still panicked, Maya tried examining her choices and playing them out. For example, if she were to go talk to the Assistant Principal at her own school before she received the phone call, that action would be consistent with the character and integrity she showed her school community. That might lessen the consequences or, at least, alleviate the fear and guilt that was freaking her out. On the other hand, she had broken no school rules on her own campus or school sponsored event. Would she be creating drama where there might never be drama?  Maya was confused and overwhelmed. She needed to come up with an action plan before school tomorrow.

1. If you were Maya’s best friend and had her best interest at heart, what would you suggest she do?
2. If you were her parent, what do you think you would suggest she do?
3. What would she have to lose if she turned herself in?
4. What would she have to lose if she didn’t?
5. Have you or someone you know ever been in a similar situation to this? What happened and how did it turn out? Did you or that person feel regret or pride in the choice made?
6. Do any of you feel Maya is over reacting to this situation? Why or why not?

Be honest with your answers for the following:

1. Do you like blogging or not?
2. Is blogging for students like you an important thing to do?  Why?  Why not?
3. What would you like to blog about?
4. Why should we blog about your suggestions?
5. Do you like our blogging activities?  Why?  Why not?
6. What should we do with our current blogging activities?
7. What else would you like to learn about in this quarter of computer applications?  (Suggest 5 things.)
8. How do you like our LINUX computers so far?

Here’s an ethical dilemma from http://www.goodcharacter.com.  Read it through and answer the questions at the bottom through your blog.  Be honest and natural in your answers.  Please answer in full, complete sentences.

It’s midway through the spring semester, and you are taking a math test. You’ve been struggling all semester in this class, and you know that this test will form a big part of your grade. You feel like you are doing quite well on the test until you come to the last problem. It is worth 20 points and you just can’t remember how to solve it. As it happens, the class math whiz is sitting right in front of you and you can see he’s just finished it. You are close enough to see how he solved it, and you know that no teacher can see you if you cheat.

1. What do you do?
2. Would you cheat?
3. Whether you respond yes or no, explain your reasoning.
4. Think of someone you have a great deal of respect for. Would that person cheat? Why or why not?
5. What would you do if you cheated and then a fellow student confronted you and was angry about what you did?
6. Suppose you cheated. If the teacher asked you the next day whether or not you cheated, would you confess or make something up?
7. Have you been in this situation? Would you change anything about your decision now?
8. Have you ever seen someone cheat in class? What did it feel like?
9. If one person cheats in a class, do you think anyone else is affected? Why & how / Why not?
10. How big an issue is cheating in your school? Do you think it affects you?