Ethics class, 2-4pm Monday afternoon

[brambless.livejournal.com]

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, you will answer to me, personally. You will 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. If I don't get enough volunteers, I will volunteer someone. 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. TAs are expected to prompt discussion and challenge other students to analyse their own responses as well as the tasks expected of any other student. If you are interested, please say so on your paper, or see me after class."

[OOC: Class will be open for responses for the next week, for those who need to slowplay. For those of you who read Friday's class, this speech is not directly cribbed. That would be totally irresponsible. I made two changes.]

Comments

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

I was about this far from gouging out my own eyes. Luckily Jake and I managed to escape about the time Ash started singing.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Naked and singing? Now I want to be blind and deaf with you."

[ooc: Hee! When's art class? Perhaps he could pass by the hallway if it's not against his schedule]

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

And dancing. I'm seriously starting to regret taking that class.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I'm seriously starting to be glad that I didn't." Angelus winced, covering his eyes. "Oh God. Now I'm imagining the bouncing..."

[ooc: No class conflict so he could plausibly pass by. Sadly can't find a way for him to plausibly talk to Ash. But nothing saying he's not walking by the hallway, right?]

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

It was actually more of a spinning.

*headdesks*

And I can't withdraw, because guess who decided it's be a good idea to sign up as TA?

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Ew," Angelus winced. "And ouch. You should've gone with this class. I'm doing the TA thing here. Or I will be if my little catfight with Buffy doesn't knock me out of the running."

[ooc: heh heh heh. If I've got time during the day I'll have him poke his head in]

Re: Second Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looks over at Angelus and winks, shaking her head very slightly.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angelus grinned. He scribbled a note, then held it up so only Tara could see You said you wanted me to challenge the other students.

Re: Second Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looked over at the paper, and walked away. She returned moments later, a dropped a piece of folded paper on his desk. Inside was a shiny gold star.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angelus grinned and put the paper into his pocket. He blew Tara a kiss.

Re: Second Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara blushed furiously and crossed the opposite side of the classroom to engage enother student.

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

It was the extra credit that got me. Damn extra credit.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Extra credit and being able to drop Bio," Angelus said. "What's not to love?"

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Teach seems pretty cool too. And I doubt you're going to be relegated to Coffee Slave any time soon.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"I get to insult - I mean challenge my fellow classmates and earn course credit," Angelus said. "It's a job I can learn to love. Also I don't play slave unless somebody's wearing leather and promising good orgasms out of it."

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Well, you do have a unique ability to insult challenge your classmates. It sounds like it was tailor made for you.

I'll have to remember that, it might be useful.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"Ethics is so near and dear to my unbeating heart," Angelus put a hand on his chest mock-dramatically. "If I can help but one of my fellow students learn to open their minds, my work here will be done. I look good in leather. Just sayin'."

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Ethics are very important. Help you to know were you stand with people.

Really? I hadn't noticed.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Very true. And why good guys so very often lose. I hadn't noticed that about you either.

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Also true.

Darn. Have to do something about that.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I think people who claim to be into nobility and the greater good just use words like that as an excuse to indulge their fetish for acting like a martyr. As though denying what you want automatically makes you a better person. Fashion show. Just a suggestion.

Re: Second Hour

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I'm going to jump in on that one," Tara interrupts. "The two of you seem to have a somewhat skeptical attitude towards do-gooders. Do you think a wholly selfless act is possible?

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Damn it, we were talking about leather!

"I think a lot of do-gooders are in denial about what they really want," Angelus said. "I don't mind a do-gooder who places saving their family and friends above strangers, but don't act like you're not playing favorites."

Re: Second Hour

[psycho-barbie.livejournal.com]

Heroism is just an excuse for being too afraid to take what you really want, act how you want, be who you want. Maybe the JA should organise one. I'm sure Faith and Bel would be interested as well.

Re: Second Hour

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Alternatively, heroism is doing what you want, but putting it under the label of greater good because that makes you feel better about yourself. That's... not a dumb idea, actually. Want to come to the meeting tomorrow and suggest it?