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  WORKBOOK

Contents

*   DIRECTIONS

*   CHARACTER

*   RESPECT

*   BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS

*   FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS

*   SAFETY and SCHOOL LAW

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Teachers: The simulations and exercises in this workbook should be supplemented with a variety of group activity and role-playing.  Students need to experience a variety of perspectives, and should be placed in roles of the victim as well as the perpetrator.  It would also enrich the lessons to include a variety of artwork projects, such as storyboards or posters focusing on values themes.

 

Students: Complete the problems in this workbook.  Depending on instructions from your teacher, they can be done individually or through group activity.  Most of your responses will be in a short essay format.

 

You will be graded on your ability to complete the following two tasks:

 

  1. Demonstrate your knowledge of values and which values are involved in a particular simulation.

 

  1. Demonstrate your writing ability by being able to clearly express ideas using complete sentences and paragraphs.

 

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CHARACTER

 

Simulation #1: James and Irene are brother and sister.  Both are in the 10th grade, even though James is one year older than Irene.  James was retained in the 8th grade, and is still doing poorly in school.

 

James is a good talker.  He seldom does his homework, but often tells his parents a variety of untruths such as: I already did my homework; I did it at school; the teacher lost it.  He has gotten by with this for years, but he did lose one grade level because of his irresponsibility.  James has been involved in a good deal of other trouble, but has seldom been caught.  Even when questioned, he has usually been able to lie his way out of a situation and not be punished.

 

Irene is also a good talker.  She is concerned about her future, and cares a great deal for her friends.  Irene is a student leader, involving herself in many school activities.  She is well liked by students and teachers.  She loves to have fun, but not at the expense of others.

 

      Irene is using and practicing high values, James is not.  If both students continue with the same values they are now using, in your judgment what will their character be like in 10 years?

 

1.      Describe the character of James in 10 years:

 

 

 

2.      Describe the character of Irene in 10 years:

 

 

 

      If you were an employer needing a responsible young man or woman for a particular job, would you hire James or Irene?  Why?

 

Think of a person that you know personally or have seen in a movie that you feel is a person of integrity.  Remember that the measure of integrity is: honest, trustworthy, respectful, and responsible.

 

Describe the character of this person.  Change the name and only use a first name.

 

 

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RESPECT

 

Simulation #2: Carla was a member of a group of girls who called themselves the “Northside Babes.”  Carla said that this was not a gang, but other students felt otherwise.  The Northside Babes liked to hang out with each other; they pledged that no one was to mess with them because they would protect each other.  Unfortunately, when one member of the group had a problem, the other girls of the group would give her support, both verbal and physical if necessary.

 

Betty, who is black, is a new student who recently transferred to the school.  Betty is pretty and attracts the attention of several boys.  This concerns Carla who approaches Betty in P.E. class and aggressively begins asking her a lot of questions and comments.  “Where are you from?  Why did you come here?  Why do you dress like that?  Boys here aren’t interested in someone like you!”  Betty does not like the way that Carla is interrogating her and responds by saying, “Who are you?  I don’t have to answer your questions!” 

 

Carla becomes angry.  Her friends crowd around her and Betty.  Carla pushes Betty and calls her a name.  Carla’s friends begin name-calling and telling Carla to “hit her.”  Betty is scared, she yells, “leave me alone!”  By this time the teacher comes over and breaks it up.  Making sure the teacher doesn’t hear, Carla tells Betty that this isn’t over and that she will get her later.  

 

1.      Carla thinks of herself as a brave person when she threatens or tries to intimidate another person.  In fact, though, Carla has her friends supporting her.  Would you consider Carla’s actions to be an act of courage?  Why or why not?

 


2.      In your opinion, why has Carla confronted Betty?  Is it because she is different? or is there some other reason?

 

 

3.      Is Carla showing respect for Betty’s rights?  Describe how she is or is not showing respect.

 

 

4.      Are Carla’s friends being respectful?  Describe how they are or are not being respectful.

 

 

 

Simulation # 3: Dennis is an 18-year-old high school Senior.  He has an old car that he has fixed up, and he is very proud of the way it looks and drives.  Dennis is becoming a very good mechanic and could have a very good future in this area.  However, Dennis does have some very bad habits: 

*   He throws trash everywhere.  For years he has been throwing his personal trash on the streets, sidewalks, wherever.  He doesn’t think much about it; it’s just a habit.

*   He discards oil from his car into the gutter, or wherever convenient.

*   He drives wildly in desert and other off-road areas, which destroys plant life and animal habitat.

 

  1. There are consequences to Dennis’ actions:  Consequences to the land, water, and other people.  Describe some of these consequences.

 

6.      There are also consequences for Dennis.  Describe some of these consequences:

 

 

 

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BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS

 

Simulation # 4: Rebecca was running for Student Body President.  Her main competition came from Roger.  Both Rebecca and Roger were well liked and it appeared to be a close race.  Rebecca was worried.  She had a few friends start spreading rumors that Roger was a liar and could not be trusted.  Since Rebecca had no real knowledge about Roger’s truthfulness, she was careful not to make accusations herself.  However, just to be sure that Roger wouldn’t win, she and her friends went to school at night and destroyed most of Roger’s posters.

 

 

1.      If you knew what Rebecca had done, would you vote for her?  Please explain your answer.

 

 

2.      How would you describe Rebecca’s character?  Is she trustworthy?


 

 


3.      Some people say that the end justifies the means.  This means that it is okay to do whatever you need to do to get what you want?  How do you feel about this idea?  Explain your answer.

 

 

 

Simulation # 5: Mike and Jose decided that they were going to have some fun.  Late one Saturday night they sneaked into the animal pens of the Future Farmers of America.  With metal sticks in their hands they began chasing the pigs.  Students belonging to Future Farmers of America were raising these pigs to enter into the County Fair.  The pigs were running and squealing while Mike and Jose were hitting them with the metal sticks.  Before long, four pigs were dead; two others were seriously injured.   Mike and Jose were exhausted and decided to leave.

 

Attracted by the noise, two security guards arrived.  Mike and Jose ran away, but were soon apprehended.  In response to the question of why they did it Mike said, “we were just having some fun.”  The next day both boys told the principal that they were really sorry for what they did.  Some questions that arise include: Why are they sorry?  Are they sorry that they killed and injured some innocent animals?  Are they sorry that they destroyed the plans and dreams of FFA students who had worked hard, and spent a good deal of money, to prepare the pigs for the County Fair?  Or, are they sorry that they got caught?  What will happen the next time they have the opportunity to destroy property, terrorize animals, or destroy the hopes and hard work of others?

 

 

4.      Mike and Jose committed this act of cruelty to some defenseless animals because they just wanted to have some fun.  Describe your feelings about Mike and Jose:

 

 


5.      Up until this incident, Mike and Jose have been well liked by other students.  They are from good families and have not been in a lot of trouble.  Perhaps if they had been sensitive to the rights of others, including the animals, they would have made better decisions from the beginning.  However, now there must be consequences.  Describe several of the consequences which are now likely to happen:

 

 

6.      This is a terrible and insensitive incident, and it is difficult to imagine anything-good coming of it.  This is a critical time for Mike and Jose.  Undoubtedly, their character had been damaged due to this incident.  Describe how they can make the best out of a bad situation to develop higher values in the future: 

 

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FULFILLING OBLIGATIONS

 

Simulation # 6: Eddie doesn’t like school, except for being a place to meet his friends.  He is often in trouble and seldom does his homework.  He shows little concern about his education and does not seem to care if his teachers and parents are upset with him.

 

One day Eddie decided to ditch school and go to the video game store with a couple of friends who also ditched.  Eddie had one of his friends, posing as a parent, call the school and say that he was ill.  He did the same for his friend. 

 

Later, when they were caught, Eddie said, “I didn’t come to school because I didn’t feel like it!”

 

1.      List at least three obligations which Eddie is not fulfilling:

 

a)

 

b)

 

c)

 

 

2.      Describe Eddie’s reputation with teachers and school administrators:

 

 


3.      If Eddie continues with his present attitude, what do you think his life will be like in 10 years?

 

 

 

Simulation # 7: Karen is a good student and is very interested in sports.  However, Karen has an older friend named Johnny who is very involved in drugs.  Johnny smokes marijuana and takes illegal pills.  Karen is very concerned about Johnny, and has tried to get him to quit.  Johnny just tells her to butt out. 

 

One day at a party Johnny and some of his friends tried to get Karen to take some pills.  Karen was scared; she didn’t want to take pills, but she felt pressure to be like her friends.  After taking two pills, she began to feel good, but then she got sick.

 

The next day at school Karen told some of her school friends what had happened.  They said that they didn’t believe her.  Karen said, “I will show you tomorrow.”  On the following day Karen showed her school friends some pills that had been given to her by Johnny.  One of the students told the principal about the pills and Karen was caught with the pills. 

 

 

4.      Karen had a good reputation.  Will this incident change that reputation?

 

 

5.      How should Karen have handled the situation at the party?

 

 

6.      Would you consider Johnny to be a true friend?  Why, or why not?

 

 

7.      What consequences is Karen now likely to face?

 

 

 

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SAFETY and SCHOOL LAW

 

Simulation # 8: Gus is a 13-year-old 8th grade student, but he was small and appeared to be much younger.  A group of other students constantly made fun of him, calling him such names as “pigmy” or “runt.”  Gus used to be a good student, but his problems at school were causing him to become frustrated and bitter.  His grades suffered and he was getting in trouble with teachers.

 

One day during the lunch period Jason purposely brushed against Gus and then said, “Hey runt, get out of my way!”  For Gus this was the last straw; he became angry and started yelling profanities at Jason.  He then charged into Jason swinging and kicking.  Thus the fight started, one in which Gus had little chance of winning.

 

FACTS: Both Gus and Jason have failed to obey the law on “safety.”  Jason did offer “respect” to Gus, and he did not receive respect from Gus.  Jason and his friends have been bullies with their insensitive behavior.  Gus has not used good judgment in his response to the harassment.

 

 

1.      Write about Gus.  Suggest some positive ways he can improve his relations with other students.  Include the following words as a part of your suggestions:  trust, consequences, friend, respect, self-discipline.

 

 

2.      Write about Jason.  How do you feel about his values?  What changes in his character should be made?  Include the following words in your writing:  respect, bully, compassion, self-discipline.

 


 

Simulation # 9: Let’s assume that in Simulation # 8 the problem continues and Gus becomes more and more frustrated.  Both Jason and Gus were suspended from school as a result of the last fight.  The principal has asked Gus to let him know if the harassment continues.  However, Gus refuses to ask for help from school officials because he thinks that would be cowardly.  Because Jason and his friends don’t want to get into trouble at school again, they are now harassing Gus away from the school grounds, usually on the way home from school.  In order to protect himself, Gus begins carrying a knife. 

 

 

3.      The situation has now become quite dangerous.  Gus thinks that the weapon will provide him with more protection.  Do you believe this is true?  or has the situation become more dangerous for all the boys, including Gus?  Explain your thoughts:

 

 

4.      Describe the consequences that are likely to happen if Gus is caught by school officials carrying a knife:

 

 

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