Introduction
As a teacher keep my personal political opinions out of the classroom, but I also feel it is important for all students to question their own beliefs. Too often they repeat what their parents have told them, without the benefit of experience that their parents used to form their own decisions. They need to think for themselves. Interestingly, I spend most of my time defending politicians and policies I disagree with in order to force my students to defend their own positions and think about the other point of view.
The issue of abortion is one I would not normally touch. Not only are the students young and have little real world experience, but it is based in faith. Students do not understand sex, much less the real world consequences. Add to this the gender divide; the boys jump into the discussion ready to tell anyone who will listen what the world should do. This last bit is bad enough during any discussion, but adolescent boys telling girls what to do with their bodies creates a divide that shuts down discussion from the start.
While researching candidates that they would support for the 2008 presidential election several of my female students were heavily influenced by a candidate’s position on abortion. One day my class was being taught by a substitute. As a group researched and talked, three girls suddenly started arguing with another two about the issue. This was not a spirited and respectful discussion, but involved name calling and ended in tears before the substitute was aware of it. Friendships were broken. It was ugly, and the girl who was attacked, normally self confident, was confused.
In response, I designed the following scenarios to get at some of the core issues.
Years before I had bought a copy of moral philosopher Peter Unger’s book “Living High and Letting Die”. In it Unger looks at the issue of poverty and death in most of the world while a few of us live in luxury and excess. In short, if you knew that making coffee at home instead of going to Starbucks saved enough money to save a life for a month would you do do it? It would , but we don’t. Why? Unger offers a series of interesting scenarios that attempt to break down the various reasons (location, knowing the victim, cost to ourselves, victim’s role in their own condition, etc.). I recommend the book, even as the discussion are academic. My students like many of the scenarios (I pick and choose them) and can usually identify the reasons for their choices.
Inspired by Unger, I created a few around abortion. They are not designed to sway students one way or another, but for them to question their moral beliefs without the abortion label. These scenarios take gender out of the equation (so boys have to think about their own choice, not what they think a girl would go through) and the loaded term of abortion. It is about health, lifestyle and the life of another. At the end I put up an encyclopedic entry on abortion, and reveal that the parasite is a child.
When I used it with that volatile group some interesting things happened. Those who were scornful of pro-life abortion positions a week before were adamant about saving another person’s life and scolding about the selfishness of others, even at the risk to their own life. A few of the pro-life students wavered, but appreciated the perspective. The vast majority, who had not really given the issue (or any issue) much thought felt they had a toe hold on the issue.
In speaking with a few students a year later many said revisiting a position made them feel more compassion for those who disagreed with them. They also felt more clear about position they had always held and even felt their position was strengthened.
Procedure
Break the students into three groups. Each group is given one of the three scenarios. One student reads it aloud to his or her group, and everyone in that group writes in their journal for a minute in silence. Then, the discuss it as a group. The group must come to a consensus on what to do.
Have the students come together into a large circle. Have each group read its scenario and then discuss its consensus. They tend not to have a consensus; let people explain the thought process. Move to the second and third groups.
While I wrote Scenario Four and Five I have never used them. They were to explore fault: does it matter if someone has consensual sex or is raped? If I had used them, I would do so after the three groups had presented, but while in the large group. Again, a minute of private thoughts in a journal and then discussion. Move for consensus, which will not be achieved.
The Five Scenarios
SCENARIO ONE
Your doctor tells you that you have a parasite growing in your gut.
For the next year you will feel tired and have a growing discomfort that will disrupt your life and prevent you from doing many of the activities that you currently do and enjoy. It will probably not hurt or kill you, but it will take a physical toll, hurt you financially and generally disrupt your life and relationships. Your doctor can schedule a procedure to remove the parasite and you will move on with your normal life.
Your doctor also tells you that this particular parasite produces a chemical that can save another person’s life. If you are willing to live with the pain and discomfort for one year, he tells you, another person who would die will, instead, live. At the end of the year the doctor will remove the parasite.
You will probably never know the life you save.
Your Choice: You can have a simple procedure and lead a normal life by next week, or you can disrupt your life and live in discomfort for a year and save a life.
SCENARIO TWO
Your doctor tells you that you have a parasite growing in your gut.
For the next year you will feel tired and have a growing discomfort that will disrupt your life and prevent you from doing many of the activities that you currently do and enjoy. It will probably not hurt or kill you, but it will take a physical toll, hurt you financially and generally disrupt your life and relationships. Your doctor can schedule a procedure to remove the parasite and you will move on with your normal life.
Your doctor also tells you that this particular parasite produces a chemical that can save another person’s life. If you are willing to live with the pain and discomfort for one year, he tells you, another person who would die will, instead, live. At the end of the year the pain and discomfort will be less noticeable, but always there. Living with it will change your lifestyle and cost you financially. Even after twenty years it is something you will live with daily.
Still, you will save a life. In fact, the life you save will be someone you know.
At this point, if you remove the parasite, no one will know except you.
Your Choice: You can have a simple procedure and lead a normal life by next week, or you can disrupt your life and live in discomfort while saving the life of someone you know.
SCENARIO THREE
Your doctor tells you that you have a parasite growing in your gut.
It will kill you. For the next year you will feel tired and have a growing discomfort that will disrupt your life and prevent you from doing many of the activities that you currently do and enjoy. It will take a physical toll, hurt you financially and generally disrupt your life and relationships. Your doctor can schedule a procedure to remove the parasite and you will move on with your normal life.
Your doctor also tells you that this particular parasite produces a chemical that can save another person’s life. If you are willing to live with the pain and discomfort for one year, he tells you, another person who would die will, instead, live. Still, if you do not do the procedure now, you will die.
You will save a life. In fact, the life you save will be someone you know but are not close to.
At this point, if you remove the parasite, no one will know except you.
Your Choice: You can have a simple procedure and lead a normal life by next week, or you die while saving the life of someone you know distantly.
SCENARIO FOUR
Your friends like to have fun, and part of that is to go to the woods and hang out.
Near your spot is a swimming hole that has been deemed unhealthy. It is full of parasites that will affect your health and lifestyle. The local health official has determined that anyone who swims in it has a good chance of getting this parasite.
Still, it’s hot and some of your friends have swam in it to no ill effect. Still, you know the dangers. A good friend wants to go swimming, but won’t without you.
You go. Of course, you get the parasite.
This parasite can save someone else’s life, you are told. Your doctor lays out your choices: You can have a simple procedure and lead a normal life by next week, or you can disrupt your life and live in discomfort while saving a life.
SCENARIO FIVE
Your friends like to have fun, and part of that is to go to the woods and hang out.
Near your spot is a swimming hole that has been deemed unhealthy. It is full of parasites that will affect your health and lifestyle. The local health official has determined that anyone who swims in it has a good chance of getting this parasite.
You stay away.
One night, someone physically picks you up and throws you into the swimming hole.
Of course, you get the parasite.
This parasite can save someone else’s life, you are told. Your doctor lays out your choices: You can have a simple procedure and lead a normal life by next week, or you can disrupt your life and live in discomfort while saving a life.
