fandomhigh | Ethics class, 8-10am Friday morning

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ethics

Ethics class, 8-10am Friday morning

Tara leans against her desk, smiling as she watches the students come in. Some of the faces she recognises, and gives a nod. The room is filled with soft, comfortable chairs, which are positioned in a circle. Each chair has a wooden insert in one arm, to lean on while writing, and each wooden insert has a blank piece of paper on it.

When everyone has taken their seats, Tara begins.

"The first rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. The second rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. Allow me to clarify: you may discuss your revelations, challenge your friends and mock the teacher all you like. But if anything said inside this class is ever used against another member of it, it will mean instant detention. You will, however, have the opportunity to explain yourself before I drag you before Principal Connor. This class cannot function if people are afraid to speak."

She looks around the classroom, stopping briefly on each face. "This school is very unusual. Yes, obviously the squid is a bit odd, but what's more interesting to me is that there are individuals sitting in this room" she nods to Angelus, "who identify themselves as evil. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the first section of the course will be discussing. Evil, good, and what makes the difference between the two. Your evil classmates have perspectives you need to think about and consider. Don't ignore them in a mistaken belief that they have no ethics."

"Each class runs for two hours. Ordinarily this will be broken up into two sections: discussion and debate - today, however, there will be two discussion sections instead. The majority of your assessment will come through your involvement in class discussions. Every student is expected to participate every week. If you are painfully shy, write your thoughts down and hand them in to me. If I don't know what you're thinking, you don't get credit for it. After this week a formal debate will be held once a week. For those of you unfamiliar with debating, this means two teams of three students taking opposing sides on an issue determined by me. You will each be expected to debate three times during the term, with a week's notice to prepare for each one. At the end of semester a practical exam will be held. This will assess not what you choose to do, but how accurately you have come to an understanding of your own ethical code. I expect you to be honest with yourselves.

Friday and Monday classes are identical. Please feel free to switch between them if you have commitments that interfere with your regular attendance."

"I will want two teacher's assistants for this course, whose function it is to prompt discussion and challenge your thinking. These students will be expected to attend both Monday and Friday classes. Today's discussion will serve as your audition. If you are interested, please say so on your paper, or see me after class."

She smiles. "Alright, enough from me. Here's your first challenge: I want you to identify something you have done in the course of your life that another person might consider to be evil. I want you to explain to me why you did it, and whether you would make the same choices again if placed into a similar situation. You do not have to share this with your fellow students. Throw ideas around, talk about what different people consider evil, but write your final answers down on your piece of paper."

(Second challenge will be posted in the comments below. Discussion will be closed Thursday next week, for those who need to slowplay.)

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Since I've been here, I've broken my best friend's arm and collarbone, slept with another best friend even though I don't remember it and sang Celine Dion at the top of my lungs. I'm pretty all of those things could be considered evil.

Tara laughs. "I'm not one to judge your musical preferences, but I think people could consider those evil. How and why did you hurt your friend? Would you do it again?"

"I wasn't me. I don't even remember doing it. It was some Ferris-mone thing. Something that makes guys act weird. And this isn't the first time I've done stuff to hurt my friends when I wasn't in control of my body. I'd never do it intentionally. Friends don't do that. But the guilt doesn't go away from having done it anyway."

Tara shakes her head. "I'm afraid I can't accept that answer, Major K!. Actions you were not in control of just don't count.

Try to think outside of your own cultural sphere. Have you ever done anything that would be considered evil by a Buddhist? A member of the Christian Right? An animal rights activist? You don't have to think what you did is evil - try to think of how another person would judge you."

Kawalsky thinks about it. "The Celine Dion thing still stands. That was me. No outside influence. I think anyone with proper hearing would consider that evil." He counts on his fingers. "I eat meat, I've had pre-marital sex, I don't go to church regularly, I've stolen, I like Earthly possessions, I'm been guilty of most of the deadly sins at least once in my life and I support the New York Rangers. Islanders fans probably think I'm the devil incarnate for that."

"Excellent," Tara smiles. "Pick one of those - anything except the Rangers thing, because I won't understand it - and defend your actions to me."

"Uh.." Kawalsky thinks about it. The easiest one to talk about is actually the one he'd rather not talk about. He was put on the spot. Curses! "I was raised by semi-religious parents, so I was told pre-marital sex was wrong. I decided to do it anyway. There's no harm in it. It just doesn't fit in with a religious belief system. I decided to make my own decision based on what I wanted to do, not what I was told to do."

"Thank you, Major K!, that's excellent." Tara's smile is warm and approving. "Could you help Elizabeth (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/219732.html?thread=10278228#t10278228) through the same thought process, please?"

"Sure, anything for Liz."

"Yeah, please help me find something evil that I can actually say," she hisses at him. "I try to avoid evilness really. I had to pretend I was a good Catholic girl for my family"

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