fandomhigh | Friday Ethics Class #2, 8-10am

Tara looks excited, as students trickle in, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.

"Okay, we've got a lot to get through today. Two announcements to start:

First, Teacher's Assistants have been chosen. I have a carrot - Major K! - and a stick - Angelus. If you're having trouble grasping a concept, talk to Major K!. He'll guide you through the thinking. If you think you've got a hold on it, talk to Angelus. He'll challenge your thinking, give you the opportunity to clarify your position.

Second, and related to the latter - this class is not an easy A. At some point in this course you will find yourself challenged and confronted. For many of you, that will be today. If you walk out of this classroom before class is over, and without checking it with me, I may be understandably upset. However, I recognise that if you get angry or upset, you may need some time alone, or away from the group. To that end, I present to you the ~~Emo Closet~~ Time Out Room." She walks to the back of the classroom and opens the door to what previously was a supply cabinet. Inside is what looks very much like a white padded room. "This room is soundproofed. You can cry, scream and punch things all you want, and I will not penalise you for leaving the class or the discussion. Major K! or I will come to check on anyone who goes to the ~~Emo Closet~~ Time Out Room, in case you need help or support. Feel free to tell us to leave you alone.

Now, we've got our first debate to hear, a discussion topic to... um, discuss, and your first out of class assignment. ~~Which you are going to kill, or at least seriously maim, me for giving you.~~

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Tara looks at her calmly. "Yes. And it was the most horrifying experience of my life. But I'm not taking away your free will, and neither will your partner. What you're describing isn't slavery, Janet. Slaves can run away. Slaves can rebel."

"Then what, precisely, do you call it?" asked Janet. "Being forced to be inside your body, watching, as something else forces your mouth to say hateful words and forces your hands to harm your friends?"

She looks at the guidelines she's been handed and quotes. "'The life of slavery means one of ease, and comfort.'" She looks back up at Professor Maclay. "That's not real slavery. I've seen real slavery." She'd seen, and read the reports on, planet upon planet of human slaves, ground into the dirt, forced to labor in subhuman conditions and tortured and killed at the whims of their so-called gods--not to mention the Jaffa who'd been bred to serve as soldiers and human incubators for their masters.

Teal'c would be ashamed of her participation in this 'project' and, more to the point, she would be ashamed of herself.

"I'm not doing this project," says Janet. "I'll take the detention. But I am not participating in this exercise."

"I'm not offering you detention, Janet," Tara replies calmly. "I would like you to go discuss this with your partner. See if you two can come to an arrangement that you both feel comfortable with to complete the assignment. If not, come back to me and I will make appropriate arrangements."

She smiles softly at Janet. "And no, that's not real slavery. I wouldn't ask any of you to undertake real slavery, even for an hour. You still have your free will. You still have the right to say no. What I'm asking you to do is trust your partner, and use this as a learning opportunity. Talk to Liz. Then come back and see me. Okay?"

"Fine," says Janet, still glaring. "I'll talk to Liz."

Janet and Liz walk back over to Professor Maclay. "I'm not doing this assignment," says Janet firmly. "And I'm not going to take the assignment, not do it, and lie to you about it. If you'd rather I write a paper, then I'll do so.:

Tara nods, thoughtfully. "I appreciate your honesty. Liz, do you feel the same way?"

"Yes, Professor."

Tara takes a seat, gesturing for the two to sit down.

"Okay, two things are going to happen as a result of this decision.

First, since you have offered to write me a paper, I will accept that. You will define slavery in different contexts - including consensual and institutional, not just the the kind that involves abuse and degradation. You're going to identify what exactly bothers you about the issues involved in these, and you're going to identify whether that's a personal issue or something you believe ought to be an objective, moral standpoint. You're going to relate this back to any relevant personal experiences you may have.

What you are *not* going to do is treat the slave as less than human, and that includes depriving the slave of their ability to make their own choices given limited situations.

Can you accept that as the first part of your assignment?" Tara looks to both for confirmation before she continues.

There are a lot of things Janet could say here, but if she starts talking, she won't stop. "Yes," she says tightly.

"The second thing you're going to do is watch the people who are participating - and more importantly, watch the people watching them. I want you both to report back to me on the ways, if any, people react to them differently when they are in their roles."

Tara looks very serious. "It's probably more work than the original assignment - but it's going to be a lot less difficult, so I think that's a fair trade. The second part is due at the end of the week when the assignment finishes for everyone else. You have two weeks for the first part. It's important for me to understand why you two have reacted so strongly."

"One last thing. I'm not angry. I'm not upset. I accept that you are probably both. I hope you decide to continue with the class, and I hope that your essays give me more insight into your characters, so I don't make the mistake of asking too much of you again."

Janet recognizes this tactic in Professor Maclay's last sentence. It's meant to challenge them, to make them think that maybe they're in the wrong to refuse the assignment, or that they're blindly reacting and not thinking before they act.

She's not wrong. She's not 'not thinking.' And she's not going to play.

"I'll do the essay," says Janet firmly. "But I am going to take the time to strongly consider whether I wish to continue with this course."

"I will respect your decision, either way," Tara smiled softly.

There is a fine line between provoking and pushing too hard. For these two - and Cameron, it seemed - this assignment was pushing too hard. Janet's comment about being controlled concerned her. Mentally, she sighed. Normal schools probably didn't have these issues.

Elizabeth just nods, not trusting herself to speak. She clenches her fists tightly on her lap, her nails digging into her palms, willing her memories to just go away.

She knows her ethics, she's pushed her boundaries, and she looks across at Janet as she speaks.

Janet smiles reassuringly at Liz.

"I have to go and open up the library now," she says calmly. "Liz, you needed help researching that topic for your other paper, right?"

She nods at Janet. "Yeah, I do. You said you'd show me where the books are?"

She smiles at Janet gratefully.

"As long as they're not in Special Collections," says Janet. "Let's go."

She grins slightly, and follows Janet. "Don't worry, I know not to touch your special collections."

"I hope your day improves," Tara says wryly.

[ooc: Okay, Janet and Liz (and Cameron) are way pissed at Tara right now. Can I just check that everyone's muns are happy? Because I get nervous about these things?]

OOC: Liz? I'm making a post-class post in Janet's journal before I open the library. It'll be locked to you and Cam, if you're interested.

[ooc: Yeah, am there]

Elizabeth nods, her features calm and collected. "Yes, ma'am."

"I'm not doing it either," Elizabeth adds. "And same as Janet, I'll write a paper."

Friday Ethics Class #2, 8-10am

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