fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, September 6]

Anakin walked into his classroom precisely on time and gave the students assembled there an appraising glance.

It wasn't possible to tell what he thought of them.

"I'm Master Skywalker," he said in a voice that was intended to carry, "this is Ethics, and we're going to skip the introductions--I'll figure out who you are--and move straight to our first discussion."

He paced around the room, cloak flaring out behind him, as he handed out the syllabus. "Today's topic," he said. "Self sacrifice: knowing the difference between saving people and being a pretentious twit."

"Any time I ask a a group of people what they would do to save someone they love, they all blither on about how they would set the world on fire, lie, cheat, steal, kill, die, et cetera, et cetera. I've been at this school too long to believe that half of you haven't already been put into this situation and I'm in no mood to hear adolescent ramblings about how wonderful you were or might hypothetically be. We're going to ground it in reality.

"A month ago there was a woman who was in charge of this school. She had been placed in power legitimately, was allowed to punish in accordance with that power, and began pushing the boundaries of her authority almost immediately. She called students to her office, punished them for slights genuine or imagined, and began escalating the severity and frequency of her punishments, going over the line into what was no longer acceptable."

Anakin crossed his arms over his chest, the scar across his face very evident in the light coming through the window. "It eventually took a team of highly qualified adults to take her out. Today's topic: when do you draw the line? When do you admit to yourself that a problem cannot be solved, that to sacrifice yourself isn't a statement, it's merely pointless? How long does it take for you to check your ego?"

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Gwynn was quiet as she listened to the other answers.

"I honestly do not know. I have gotten into trouble back home for letting my ego think I could save the day... and it didn't. On the other hand, there were times I went by caution and should have acted instead." She bit her lip. "There are times that the line between ego and real sacrifice is blurry."

"Very true. Have you learned to honestly assess your skills?" Anakin asked. "If I had a credit for every student at this school who went into Umbridge's office thinking they were enough to take her on and came out sprouting vegetation, I'd be a wealthier man."

"Sir, I knew there was no way I could win a face to face fight with Umbridge. I have no magic and I was not allowed to be carrying my bow. So, I rebelled in other ways, like filling her office with snare traps."

"And if she'd caught you?" Anakin demanded. "What did you feel you accomplished by booby trapping her office?"

"I do not know," she answered honestly. "At the time I was just so frustrated at not being able to face her and do something to help protect the people she was hurting. I tried to treat her as we treat Nottingham back at home, but it didn't work as well here." She frowned. "My father wasn't pleased when I told him what I had done. He said it had been a fool's errand and if I had been caught the bigger fool I would have been."

"And did you stop to consider that by making her angry, she would redirect the emotions she was feeling towards you at whatever hapless student walked through her door next?" Anakin asked relentlessly. "This is what I mean about ego. If you're going to take a stand, take a stand. Don't sneak around and make others live out your consequences."

"I did not claim that my actions were well thought out, sir," Gwynn admitted, as she wrote down things he was saying, including looking up ego. "I had promised not to resort to violence, and the only stands I have been trained to make include weapons. I do regret that my actions may have caused harm to others as that was not what I had intended."

He sounds so much like Robin. That thought alone had her feeling even smaller right about now.

"Learn from it," Anakin snapped. "There is no shame in recognizing that a problem lies out of your expertise. You won't see me volunteering for a bake off or a singing competition. Find allies or walk away. Both are options students at this school never seem to remember."

Gwynn may have flinched slightly at his tone. Oh yes, he sounded exactly like Robin.

"Does this mean that if I know there are issues I cannot deal with, I am permitted to approach any teacher?"

"Of course," Anakin said, frowning. "We don't wear signs or anything, but that's what we're here for."

Gwynn nodded. "Thank you, sir. I will do my best to think through my actions and decisions more thoroughly -- or talk to one of my teachers about them."

She may need a larger notebook as she now had even more questions.

Ethics [Thursday, September 6]

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