NSC 502 Ethical_Scenario_paper_Basic 2022.docx.pdf

According to the law in the region, Tom should be enrolled on the local public high school,

which has a bad reputation for poor academics and serious drug problems among students on

campus. Nevertheless, Joe's sister lives in the adjoining district with a better school, and she's

willing to use her address as our legal address and have Tom admitted to the school. Her

proposal is not new since other parents have successfully used this approach for the well-being

of their children. For this strategy to work, Joe had to instruct his son that whenever asked, he

must lie that he lives at his aunt's address. Failure to implement this strategy would lead to a

more difficult situation of having to look for a private school for the boy or moving to another

district which is difficult due to financial constraints. Joe has been a model of integrity in his area

due to his law-abiding nature. However, Tom has challenges handling minor ethical issues, and

from the drug culprits in the school and also offer him the best opportunity to build his future

through quality education. However, Joe experience a dilemma since the available school

threatens his son's future through low-quality education and drug exposure. Besides, his only

option is unethical since it requires him to lie and teach his son how to lie about their residential

area. This is a critical situation for Joe since his son already has issues with his morality. Joe

knows that telling his son to lie will make him lose his moral authority in building his character,

increasing his deviance. The alternative solution to his problem is taking his son to a private

school or moving to a different district with a better school which is unaffordable due to high

financial demand. Since the easiest available option is making his son lie about his residential

address for him to go to the good school in his aunt's place, Joe is in a dilemma on whether to

compromise his integrity and lie or risk enrolling his son on their local school regardless of the

possible negative consequences.

Truth Matters—Seek the Truth.

consider biblical insight in his decision-making process. Individuals can gain Godly insight

directly from studying the bible or through earnest prayers for God to help them discern (Rae,

2018). To begin with, Joe needs to remember that lying will compromise his relationship with

God since God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6: 16- 19) and the bible says that "the Lord detests

lying lips but He delights in people who are trustworthy" (Proverbs 12:22).

believer, Joe understands that God has placed him in that place for a purpose. Through the Holy

Spirit, Joe will discern God’s will since Christ said that the Holy Spirit is the helper of believers

who will give wise counsel. In this case, Joe learned from Apostle Paul's strategy, who always

sought God's will and noted that "these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The

Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts

except for their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God

except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2: 10- 11).

consult with his fellow deacons and the clergy to determine the best action as a Christian.

Besides, he can assess the decisions of Godly people in the bible to identify their responses when

they experience challenges.

Identify the Ethical Absolutes, Principles, Precepts, Values and Virtues/Character that

Relate to the Dilemma(s).

dilemma because it is against the ninth commandment, 'You shall not lie (Exodus 20:16). It is

also important to employ the virtue ethics and the deontological ethical in decision making to

help in balancing the aspects of 'being' and 'doing' (Tyra, 2015). Ethical consideration requires an

individual to make decisions according to the virtues and values that they must conform to hence

ensuring they are in the right (Rae, 2018). In Joe’s case, it was important for him to uphold the

cardinal virtues of prudence and fortitude. Prudence is employed when an individual identifies

the right thing and chooses to do it, and fortitude is when an individual stays positive in an

endeavour until things get right (Zollo et al., 2017). Besides, the situation requires Joe to

embrace various ethical values. First, the situation tested his ability to remain honest in

difficulties. An honest person does not deviate from the truth even when subject to a pressuring

problem. In this case, honesty would make Joe the tough choice of enrolling his son in a private

his son in the local school, there would be significant consequences of the decisions. The

utilitarianism theory dictates that an act is ethical if the ultimate results benefit the highest

number of people (Trammel, 2015). Hence, in this case, the optimum decision would be for Joe

to enrol Tom in the local school and work diligently to improve her academic performance and

eliminate the drug problem among students in the school. By so doing, the changes in the school

would benefit not only his son but also other students in the school and the future. However,

taking his son to a school in another district or a private school would only help the boy but leave

the local school unchanged, ultimately affecting society's well-being.

Discussion/Decision/Rationale.

sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about his child’s residence and to put his child in a

position where he must lie. However, since the cost of private school tuition would require

financial sacrifice and moving is such a complex process, he would send him to the local public

school and make the best of it. Being a Christian, it would be essential to seek the truth from the

bible and to pray fervently for revelation. Joe should also remember that lying is the work of the

devil. In John 8: 44, Jesus addressing the Pharisees, said, "You belong to your father, the devil,

minor ethical issues, showing him that there are situations when one is allowed to break or bend

the law would show irresponsibility hence deteriorating his moral standards.

Stand for God.

there are complex challenges that Joe must endure as a Christian. It will be vital for him to

remember that God is omniscient, knows their challenges, and has the power to change his

situation. Acts 17:26 says, "God began by making one man. From him came all the different

people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they must live".

Besides, God warns his people from behaving like godless people because He knows what they

need before they ask (Mathew 6:8). Joe should remember Christ's instructions of seeking the

kingdom of God and its righteousness to receive God's provision in every other thing. In this

case, he will pray for guidance to engage appropriate stakeholders to identify effective strategies

for improving the school's academics and handling the drug problem in the school.

Implementation/Fallback.

principles and virtues, it is difficult for them to understand whether they made the right choices.

Background: You (Joe) and your wife (Bev) have three children—all boys. You are a known

Christian and a deacon at your local church. Your eldest son (Tom) is about to enter high school.

The local public high school that your son will have to attend, based on your residence, has a

poor academic reputation and is known to have problems with drug use on campus. Your sister

lives in an adjoining district with a much better school. She is willing to let your child use her

address as your legal residence. You know other parents have done similar things for their kids.

In order for this to work, you would have to instruct your child to say he lives at your sister's

address even though this is not true. It would be financially difficult to afford private school and

you do not want to move to another district. You have been a fairly good model of integrity and

have been law-abiding. Your son is having difficulty dealing with some minor ethical issues and

you are concerned about his character.

Select the best alternative or develop your own alternative. Describe and justify your

_____ (2) Use your sister’s address even though you think it is wrong to do so because others

_____ (3) Discuss the matter with your child, explaining the importance of schooling but that he

_____(4) Not use your sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about your child's

_____(5) Not use your sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about your child's