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Ethical Theories Which Teachers Should Be Aware Of When Determining The Course Of Action Regarding Discipline

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There are two major ethical theories which teachers should be aware of when determining the course of action regarding discipline, and other student affairs. There is the consequentialist theory, and the non-consequentialist. These ethical theories have been put to the test in the case study involving Ms. Jones (the teacher), Johnnie (the student) and, Mr. Pugnacious (Johnnie’s father). In the scenario described, Ms. Jones is having an ethical dilemma. She has witnessed Johnnie starting a fight with his classmates, and wishes to speak to his father regarding his behaviour. Mr. Pugnacious arrives to the meeting, belt in hand, and states his desire to “teach that brat to fight in school” while smelling of alcohol. To keep Johnnie from being hurt, Ms. Jones lies to Johnnie’s father and says it was not his son who started the fight and that he should not be punished. A teacher coming from a consequentialist standpoint is more likely to see the lie told by Ms. Jones as acceptable, because she was keeping her student out of harm’s way. A teacher coming from a non-consequentialist standpoint is more likely to believe the opposite, that lying to a parent is unacceptable and should be avoided. In this essay, I will analyze both the positive and negative effects of assuming each perspective, and finally will provide my own opinion about how the case should have been handled.

A consequentialist teacher would have reacted the same way Ms. Jones did in this situation. Ms. Jones

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