The dilemma presented in the ‘Drawing the Line’ case outlines an experienced teacher’s attempt to allow grade 5 students to write about the Gulf War through their own modes of writing despite some parental disapproval. The teacher in the case had made an ethical judgment about how to approach the complex issues surrounding the Gulf War ensuring he would not give his own views about it. However, it was clearly indicated that the students in the class had heard and read reports about the war presented by the media and they wanted to express their thoughts and views through letter writing.
The ethical challenge that the teacher faced in the case is whether to allow the students to continue their freedom of expression through their writing, which they had openly discussed in class on their own without influence from him. Or to go against some parents wishes to stop the writing exercise in the class as it had put stress upon the students who were trying to complete the writing exercise.
Another challenge presented is regarding the student who initiated the discussion in the class, ‘Rosalyn’ and her disapproving parent who demanded the meeting with the principal. Rosalyn had in some way started the discussion having made reference to Ann Frank’s diary and she seemed enthusiastic about the writing exercise. It could be an underlying issue that Rosalyn’s parents are sensitive about the topic of the Gulf War rather than Rosalyn having difficulty with the exercise hence the parents’ disapproval.
The dilemma can be resolved using the following ethical theories:The dilemma presented in the ‘Drawing the Line’ case outlines an experienced teacher’s attempt to allow grade 5 students to write about the Gulf War through their own modes of writing despite some parental disappr ...