In this ongoing course, the students will be read a summary of a book, court case, or event. Each week will focus on a different topic.
* This is NOT a debate class, this is a discussion class. Students are NOT required to read the entire book or article before class.*

After listening to the brief summary, students will engage in discussions and explain their stance as to:
1) If they believe there should be laws regulating the topic at hand
2) If the summary described something moral or immoral, in their personal opinion
3) If the summary described is ethical or unethical, in their personal opinion

Students will be reminded that nobody is "right" or "wrong" as each topic discussed could be argued both for and against, everyone has their own set of morals and ethics, and that we can engage in discussions with people with varying opinions. 

This class is designed to introduce topics pertaining to ethics, morals, and laws. 

Week 1 Beginning  Jan 9th, Jan 30th, and Feb 27th: Honesty- Book summary- Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack- we will discuss what it means to be honest, can we be harmful when being honest or is it always in good nature, when to speak the truth and when should we choose not to. Is there a time and place? Is it illegal to lie? If so, what are some examples?  Is it easy to tell the truth? Who is the most honest person you know? How does it feel to lie? Are there consequences when we lie? How does it feel to be lied to? Are tattling and telling the truth the same thing or different? 


Week 2 Beginning Week of Jan 16th, Feb 6th and March 6th- Respect: Book Summary: Don't Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton- If animals are endangered, is there a problem with respect on a global scale? How does respect and animals becoming endangered relate to one another? Is it morally or ethically justifiable for humans to protect or not protect animals? Is it our responsibility? How does respecting land, water, and animals make a difference? Does it make a difference? 

Week 3 Beginning Jan23rd, Feb 13th, and March 13th: Fairy tales: Are they beneficial? Can we learn from them? Do they have positive and negative influences on us? Do they address right and wrong and if so can they provide examples? 

Week 4 Beginning Jan 30th, Feb 20th, March 20th Equality: Book Summary: Hue Boy by Rita Phillips Mitchell- What does equality or equal mean to you? Is it ethical / moral to treat everyone as an equal or are there situations or people that do not need to be treated as equals? Does where we live make a difference? In the story, the boy is not as tall as other boys. Does someone's height, weight, appearance, beliefs, or otherwise make them unequal? Are differences something to celebrate or shy away from? Why? 

Week 5  Beginning Feb 6, Feb 27th and March 27th: Equality continued: Book Summary: Children Just Like Me  by Anabel Kindersley, Barnabas Kindersley, Sue Copsey: Do children/adults experience equality in other countries? What are your thoughts? What are your experiences? Do you think women are treated the same around the globe? Do you think men are treated the same around the globe? Do you think elderly people are treated the same around the globe? Do you think people with different colored hair, skin, or beliefs are treated the same or differently around the globe? Is it legal or illegal to treat someone differently? Are there laws about this? Have you ever been treated differently? If so, why and how did it feel? If not, have you witnessed or heard about someone being treated differently? What did you think/feel about this? 

Week 6 Beginning Feb13th, March 6th, April 3rd: Bullying and Self-Esteem: Book Summary: Black Girl Magic by Zahra Bryan- Is bullying ethical? moral? legal? Does it have an impact on self-esteem? Should we let what others think/say influence how we think / feel about ourselves? 

Week 7 of Feb 20th, March 13th, April 10th-Pollution: Book Summary:  Problems Made by Man by Baby Professor. What is pollution? Are there different types of pollution? Are they equal? Should it be legal? What should the punishment be? Why do people pollute the air, water, and/or land? How do we encourage others to care more? Would stricter laws make people care more? 


Week 8 of Feb 27th, March 20th, April 17th- Education: Should education require testing? In some places, homeschooling is illegal- why do you believe some countries ban homeschooling? Should homeschooling be legal or illegal and why? Do all students do well in school environments? Should teachers receive grades, like students, and if so who should grade teachers-- administrators? parents? students? 

Week 9 of March 6th, March 27th, and April 24th- video games and movies: are they helpful? Harmful? Should there be censorship and / or age requirements? 

Week 10 March 13th, April 3rd, and May 1st- Censorship books- Should there be censorship for literature?

Week 11 Week of March 20th, April 10th, May 8th- Employment
Week 12 Week of March 27th, April 17th, May 15th  Child Labor
Week 13 week of Feb 6th, April 3rd, April 24th, and May 22nd- Child Labor continued
Week 14 week of Feb 13th, April 10th, May 1st  and May 29th -Technology 
Week 15 - Security and Officers 
Week 16 Zoos and Circuses
Week 17- Technology - AI
Week 18- Athletes and Role Models
Week 19- Philosophy questions 
Week 20

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Week 1 Beginning November 7th: Honesty- Book summary- Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack- we will discuss what it means to be honest, can we be harmful when being honest or is it always in good nature, when to speak the truth and when should we choose not to. Is there a time and place? Is it illegal to lie? If so, what are some examples? 

Week 2 Beginning November 14th: Honesty continued: Book Summary- The Empty Pot by Demi- Is it easy to tell the truth? Who is the most honest person you know? How does it feel to lie? Are there consequences when we lie? How does it feel to be lied to? Are tattling and telling the truth the same thing or different? 


Week 3 Beginning November 21st: Respect: Book Summary- Kindness Makes Me Stronger by Elizabeth Cole- Are kindness and respect similar? How so? Why not? Is respect given or earned? Is it ever morally or ethically appropriate to be unkind? What does respect mean to you? How do we show, speak, and demonstrate respect to others? How do we show, speak, demonstrate respect for ourselves? Should there be laws regarding respecting others? the planet? animals? 

Week 4 Beginning November 28th: Respect continued: Book Summary: Don't Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton- If animals are endangered, is there a problem with respect on a global scale? How does respect and animals becoming endangered relate to one another? Is it morally or ethically justifiable for humans to protect or not protect animals? Is it our responsibility? How does respecting land, water, and animals make a difference? Does it make a difference? 

Week 5 Beginning Dec 5th: Fairy tales: Are they beneficial? Can we learn from them? Do they have positive and negative influences on us? Do they address right and wrong and if so can they provide examples? 

Week 6 Oct Dec 12th: Equality: Book Summary: Hue Boy by Rita Phillips Mitchell- What does equality or equal mean to you? Is it ethical / moral to treat everyone as an equal or are there situations or people that do not need to be treated as equals? Does where we live make a difference? In the story, the boy is not as tall as other boys. Does someone's height, weight, appearance, beliefs, or otherwise make them unequal? Are differences something to celebrate or shy away from? Why? 

Week 7 Beginning Dec 19th: Equality continued: Book Summary: Children Just Like Me  by Anabel Kindersley, Barnabas Kindersley, Sue Copsey: Do children/adults experience equality in other countries? What are your thoughts? What are your experiences? Do you think women are treated the same around the globe? Do you think men are treated the same around the globe? Do you think elderly people are treated the same around the globe? Do you think people with different colored hair, skin, or beliefs are treated the same or differently around the globe? Is it legal or illegal to treat someone differently? Are there laws about this? Have you ever been treated differently? If so, why and how did it feel? If not, have you witnessed or heard about someone being treated differently? What did you think/feel about this? 

Week 8 Beginning October 31st: Bullying and Self-Esteem: Book Summary: Black Girl Magic by Zahra Bryan- Is bullying ethical? moral? legal? Does it have an impact on self-esteem? Should we let what others think/say influence how we think / feel about ourselves? 

Week 9- Pollution: Book Summary:  Problems Made by Man by Baby Professor. What is pollution? Are there different types of pollution? Are they equal? Should it be legal? What should the punishment be? Why do people pollute the air, water, and/or land? How do we encourage others to care more? Would stricter laws make people care more? 

Week 10-  Education/ Schooling- Public vs Homeschooling- benefits, challenges, laws

Week 11- Video games/ Movies- Should the ratings be solely a suggestion or should they be adhered to by law? Are there any benefits to playing video games and if so, what are they? Should parents be held responsible if children try to replicate things they see in games/ movies? Should there be a sense of personal responsibility, even among younger children, for their own actions? Do we need laws to enforce the amount of game time or movie/television time? 

Week 12- video games
Week 13- employment 
Week 14- Child Labor



 This is NOT a debate class, this is a discussion class. Students are NOT required to read the entire book or article before class. We will solely review a summary of each book/article/topic at the beginning of each class. Based on the student's personal morals, ethics, and any background regarding laws in their area, they will engage in discussions with one another about the central idea presented in each book/article. 

My teaching style is fun, engaging, and student-centered. I enjoy adding animations, pictures, audio, videos, and tangible examples for students to remain engaged. I encourage and promote class discussion (both verbally and in the chatbox features)