Honesty
Scenario: You forgot to do your homework and the teacher asks if everyone is done. You can either say you didn’t do it or lie and say you’re done.
Question: Do you lie and say you did your homework, or do you admit that you didn’t do it?
You should admit you didn’t do it. It’s better to be honest, even if it means facing the consequences. Lying will only make things worse later, and admitting the truth shows responsibility
Scenario: In gym class, the teacher picks the same students every time to be on the team captain’s side. You’ve been picked last for the past few games, but one day you’re chosen earlier than usual.
Question: Is it fair for the teacher to always pick the same students, or should they make an effort to pick everyone equally?
It’s unfair for the teacher to pick the same students repeatedly. Fairness in group activities means that everyone gets an equal chance to participate. The teacher should try to mix things up and allow all students to feel included.
Scenario: Your friend is being teased by a group of people for wearing something they think is embarrassing. The teasing is light, but your friend is clearly upset.
Question: Is it kind to join in with the teasing, or should you support your friend?
You should support your friend. Compassion means standing up for others when they’re being hurt, even if it’s in a lighthearted way. Teasing can lead to emotional pain, and it’s important to be kind and supportive.
Scenario: You’re sitting next to a peer who is working on their homework, and you start leaning over to see what they’re doing. They don’t seem to mind, but you notice they’re getting a little uncomfortable.
Question: Is it respectful to keep leaning over and watching their work, or should you give them space?
You should give them space. Even if they don’t directly ask you to stop, it’s important to respect someone’s personal space and privacy. Being considerate of others' boundaries is a basic form of respect.
Scenario: You were asked to do the dishes, but you’re busy texting your friends and forget about it. Later, you are asked if you’ve done them yet.
Question: Is it responsible to ignore your chore, or should you admit you forgot and complete it?
You should admit you forgot and complete the chore. Taking responsibility for your tasks means following through on your commitments. It's important to stay accountable to your family and fulfill your responsibilities, even if you get distracted.
Scenario: Your friend asks you if their new outfit looks good. You think it doesn’t look great but don’t want to hurt their feelings.
Question: Do you tell your friend the truth, or do you lie and say it looks great?
You should tell your friend the truth in a kind way. You don’t have to be hurtful, but honesty is important. A gentle, honest answer helps your friend improve their decision while preserving the relationship.
Free Space!
200 Points!
Scenario: You see a classmate sitting alone at lunch, looking sad. You’re with your group of friends, and everyone ignores them, even though you know they’re lonely.
Question: Is it compassionate to ignore the classmate, or should you invite them to sit with your group?
You should invite them to sit with your group. It’s compassionate to make someone feel included when they’re feeling lonely. Small gestures of kindness can have a big impact on someone’s day and self-esteem.
Scenario: You’re in a group discussion, and one of your peers is speaking. You feel that you have a good point to add and you quickly interrupt them.
Question: Is it respectful to interrupt, or should you wait for your turn to speak?
You should wait for your turn to speak. Interrupting is disrespectful because it doesn’t allow others to finish their thoughts. Listening to someone and allowing them to speak fully shows respect for their ideas and opinions.
Scenario: You have a big test coming up, but you haven’t studied enough. Your friend offers to share their notes with you, and you’re tempted to accept because you’re behind.
Question: Is it responsible to rely on your friend’s notes, or should you study on your own to prepare for the test?
You should study on your own. Taking responsibility for your education means putting in the effort to study, even if it’s hard. Relying on someone else’s work doesn’t give you the chance to learn and grow.
Scenario: You took a test and did much worse than you expected. Your parent asks how you did, and you don’t want to disappoint them.
Question: Do you lie and say you did well, or do you tell the truth about your grade?
You should tell the truth about your grade. Lying might make you feel better temporarily, but honesty is key to fixing the issue. It will also help your parents support you in improving your grade.
Scenario: There’s a school competition where the first-place prize is a gift card. The judge is a friend of one of the participants and seems to favor them, even though other participants worked harder.
Question: Is it fair for the judge to favor their friend in the competition, or should everyone have an equal chance to win based on their efforts?
It’s unfair for the judge to favor their friend. Fairness means judging everyone based on their performance, not relationships. The winner should be chosen based on merit, not favoritism.
Scenario: You come across a social media post where one of your classmates is being ridiculed by a group of students. The post is gaining traction, and the bullying is harsh.
Question: Is it okay to ignore the post, or should you speak up and try to stop the bullying?
You should speak up and try to stop the bullying. You could inform a teacher or parent. Ignoring or laughing at online bullying makes it worse, and speaking out against it can help protect others from harm.
Scenario: You find a classmate’s personal diary or journal lying around. You’re curious about what’s inside, but you know it’s something private.
Question: Is it respectful to read their diary, or should you respect their privacy and leave it alone?
You should respect their privacy and leave the diary alone. Reading someone’s private thoughts without their permission is a violation of their trust and personal space. Respecting boundaries is essential in maintaining healthy relationships.
Scenario: You accidentally break your sibling’s/friend's iPod/MP3, but you’re afraid they’ll get mad if you tell them.
Question: Is it responsible to hide the broken device and hope they don’t notice, or should you tell them the truth?
You should tell them the truth about breaking it. Taking responsibility means owning up to your mistakes and making things right, even if it’s difficult. Hiding it might cause more problems later on.
Scenario: In a group project, one of your group members didn’t do their part, but you’re supposed to submit the work together. The teacher asks who contributed what.
Question: Do you lie and say that everyone contributed equally, or do you tell the teacher the truth about who didn’t pull their weight?
You should tell the teacher the truth about who didn’t contribute. Lying about it would be unfair to the others who did the work. It’s important to be honest about the situation so that everyone is treated fairly.
Scenario: You’re on a sports team, and the coach often lets the star player take the ball or make the final decisions, even if other players have better skills at that moment. The coach’s favoritism creates tension in the team.
Question: Is it fair for the coach to give special treatment to the star player, or should the coach allow everyone equal opportunity to contribute to the team?
It’s unfair for the coach to give special treatment. A fair coach ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute based on their abilities. Favoritism undermines team morale and doesn’t give everyone a chance to shine.
Scenario: You hear a rumor that a classmate is being bullied at home. A group of students is whispering and making fun of them for something they have no control over.
Question: Should you stay quiet to avoid getting involved, or should you show compassion toward your classmate?
You should show compassion. You can also privately offer support to the classmate who is being hurt by the rumors.
Scenario: You and a friend are having an argument about a topic you both care about. You strongly disagree with their opinion, and they’re getting frustrated.
Question: Is it respectful to keep pushing your point without listening, or should you try to understand their perspective and acknowledge their feelings?
You should try to understand their perspective and acknowledge their feelings. It’s respectful to listen to others, even if you disagree. You can still have a discussion without belittling or dismissing their views.
Scenario: In a group project, you’re supposed to research a specific topic, but you’ve been procrastinating and haven’t done your part. The deadline is coming up, and your group is relying on you.
Question: Is it responsible to do your part now, or should you leave it and let the group handle it?
You should do your part now. Responsibility means fulfilling your commitments, especially in group work where others depend on you. Procrastination might lead to a poor result for the entire group, and your teammates are relying on you.
Scenario: You and your friend were both caught cheating on a test. Your teacher asks you separately if you were involved. Your friend begs you to lie and say you weren’t cheating.
Question: Do you lie to protect your friend, or do you tell the truth about cheating?
You should tell the truth about cheating. Lying to protect your friend will not help anyone in the long run. It’s better to take responsibility for your actions, face the consequences, and learn from the experience.
Scenario: The teacher allows one student to retake the test because they were absent on the original test day. However, the student was absent because they were on a vacation, and other students who studied hard feel this is unfair.
Question: Is it fair for the teacher to allow a student to retake the test, even though they were absent due to a vacation, while others weren’t given the same opportunity?
It’s unfair to allow one student to retake the test while others don’t have the same opportunity. Fairness means that all students should be treated equally and held to the same standards. If the teacher allows retakes, they should ensure that the reasons for retaking are consistent for everyone, not based on personal circumstances.
Scenario: One of your close friends has been bullying a classmate for weeks, making cruel comments and excluding them from activities. You know that your friend is doing this to try to fit in with others, but it’s causing harm to the classmate.
Question: Do you ignore your friend’s behavior and stay loyal, or do you approach them and encourage them to be more compassionate?
You should approach your friend and encourage them to be more compassionate. True friendship means caring for the well-being of others, even when it’s difficult. You can be loyal to your friend while still standing up against bullying and encouraging them to treat others with kindness and respect.
Scenario: You’re at school, and a peer makes a comment that you find offensive. You’re tempted to challenge them openly, but you’re unsure how to respond.
Question: Is it respectful to challenge them immediately, or should you find a more thoughtful way to address the issue.
You should address the issue respectfully without challenging them immediately. It’s important to approach sensitive topics with tact and understanding. Respect for others means considering how to communicate your feelings without alienating or disrespecting them.
Scenario: You post something online that you later realize could hurt someone’s feelings. A few people have already seen the post, and you're worried about the damage it may cause.
Question: Is it responsible to leave the post up, or should you take it down and apologize?
You should take the post down and apologize. Taking responsibility for your actions online is just as important as in-person actions. If your post could hurt someone, you should take swift action to correct it and show accountability by apologizing.