Dinner Dilemmas

Purpose: To create family discussions that promotes Character Education in Pinellas County.

Dinner Dilemmas are designed to go home once a month with the students. Schools that send home a weekly newsletter could print one dilemma each week in its publication. During the week families are asked to discuss the dilemma. It is hoped that families will talk about the dilemma and decide how the character quality of the month relates to the situation presented. It is further hoped that families will discuss the dilemma of the week and decide how the character quality of the month applies to each family member.

Week 1

Situation: Sue was in her guided reading group. Everyone was taking turns reading aloud. Some in the group were slow and cautious readers.

Dilemma: On one hand Sue became impatient for her turn. On the other hand, Sue knew she should be tolerant toward all readers.

Discussion: What is your advice for Sue?

Week 2

Situation: The kids in Sam’s class overhear Tony ask to make two Mother’s Day cards. The kids start making fun of Tony because he has two moms.

Dilemma: On one hand Sam knows he should be tolerant of other people’s families. On the other hand, Sam feels peer pressure to go along with the crowd.

Discussion: What is your advice to Sam?

Week 3

Situation: All the neighbor kids wait at the same school bus stop. One girl has cerebral palsy. She goes to a special school and rides a different bus. The kids are consistently making fun of her.

Dilemma: On one hand Sue and Sam have joined in the taunting in the past. On the other hand, this is Tolerance month at school and they have pledged to practice tolerance.

Discussion: What is your advice for Sue and Sam?

Week 4

Situation: A student comes to school with a hat on after chemotherapy. Her hair has fallen out. Kids grab the hat and toss it around. She begins to cry.

Dilemma: On one hand Sue choose not to join in. On the other hand, Sue feels she should speak up about tolerance towards those who look different.

Discussion: What advice do you have for Sue?

Quotes: Starting the week of February 1:

“Week 1 – “Share our similarities, celebrate our differences.” M. Scott Peck

Week 2 – “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” H. Jackson Brown

Week 3 – “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” “Martin Luther King, Jr.

Week 4- “Civilizations should be measured by the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.” W.H. Auden

Pink Shirt Day February 24 "lift each other up" and support healthy self-esteem, empathy, compassion and kindness.