Ethics

Ethical dilemmas cross our paths frequently. People have choices that affect the outcome of the situation. The following ethical dilemma is taken from http://www.differencemakers.com/swapshop/pdf/dilemma_examples.pdf

"Teacher
You have a student who is from a single parent family. The student must work to
attend college. However, the job is interfering with the student’s performance and
several assignments have not been turned in. You have determined that a “D” is all
the student can make when a counselor informs you that the student need a “C” to
qualify for an academic scholarship.’
What do you do?"

Many Americans would simply look the other way to give the student a C. This is indirectly encouraged through our "no child left behind" program. There are also many Americans who realize that ethically, it is not right to pass the student. They may face losing their job due to low results, but they have done the right thing when they do not pass a failing student. Giving the student a C when they deserve a D will only hurt the student later. They will be unprepared for any subsequent courses in the same subject. However, if the teacher and the student were willing, they could work together to get the student tutoring, extra practice problems, or counseling - whatever it took to get the student on track for a C. The student will know that they earned the grade they received and should feel a sense of pride in that.