http://brambless.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] brambless.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2005-10-14 09:09 pm
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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.)

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-14 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"And yet if we kill thousands to save millions, would that make us good?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-14 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Does it all come down to the numbers? We'd be killing millions. And their unborn children. Or is why the issue?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-14 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Exactly," Angelus said. "Couldn't it be argued that it's good to kill millions to save thousands depending upon who those millions were?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-14 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"It could be," she agreed. "But not by me. In this particular instance, I'm speaking of a war. I want them dead because they want me dead. Otherwise, I don't particularly care."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-14 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can understand that reasoning," Angelus said. "I'm not particularly keen on saving the lives of those who are trying to kill me. It's my pesky sense of self-preservation."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Curiosity, cat, all that stipulated. Personal question?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Go ahead," he grinned. "Kitten."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Purrr." She shook her head, grinning in spite of herself. "Vampire. Soulless. The soul is a moral compass, right? So how do you know what you're doing is evil?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll be honest," he said, folding his arms on his desk and leaning forward, "I don't so much identify with the evil as I do with not being one of the so-called good guys. I've seen how they work. Far as I'm concerned, it sucks. So if being evil means being the opposite of that? Fabulous."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
"OK. So, not evil. Amoral hedonist with no objection to being called evil." Beka touches her tongue to her top lip, then the bottom, follows it with her teeth. She snaps back into focus and asks, "when you say good guy, what do you mean?"

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't want to mention names," Angelus said. "Suffice it to say one of them rhymes with Muffy, and her friends get on my nerves too."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Wasn't looking for names," Beka replied judiciously. "More kitten-like, and self-exploratory, actually."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
Angelus gave her a quick and private leer. "If you wanted to be kitten-like and exploratory you could always stop by my room later I'm not saying it's a complete list, just a current one."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Beka lips curved fractionally, but it would've taken vampiric senses to note anything other than mild amusement. "And what would you have me explore, big bad tomcat? Understood. Not looking to joing that particular club."

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] notstakedyet.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
"You're in no danger of being in it," Angelus told her in what was clearly meant as a compliment.

Re: First Hour

[identity profile] valentine-tart.livejournal.com 2005-10-15 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Good to know." Beka inclined her head in acknowledgment.