Scenarios

Scenario 11

You are taking a Year 9 lesson about Christian life. One pupil starts to talk about her older sister having an abortion. What do you do next?

Clues

  • Stay cool! Avoid strong reactions either way.
  • Young people of this age are generally used to talking about these issues. Of course you do not know whether this question is:
    - a genuine contribution to the debate
    - a search for answers or
    - an attention seeking device
  • If you perceive that the question is genuine, it could be worth using the opportunity to encourage pupils to explore where people get their ideas of what is right and wrong. Talk about sources of authority and engage pupils in an initial process of grappling with their own ideas on the issue of morality. You are seeking to enable pupils to deal intelligently with issues, which must include a careful consideration of a whole variety of possibilities, rather than choice based on uninformed personal preference. This requires you to pose open-ended questions, which allow pupils to engage with the issues. In this way you create a forum, which justifies you talking specifically about the variety of Christian responses, without being accused of preaching! Remember that whilst it is fine to make your personal/faith point of view known (use words like 'I believe that… or 'many Christians believe that…'), RE must put all sides of the argument and be non-judgemental whether you are teaching in a Church school or not.
  • It is normal for young people to wait for adults to tell them what to do - so they can react against it! This is especially true of delicate or controversial issues.
  • Whatever the case, thank the pupil for the contribution but don't get distracted from the main lesson - which may not even be about abortion. And a gentle (but general) reminder about the sister's privacy may be timely.
  • It is always worth checking BEFORE you take a class whether there are any special circumstances that you should be aware of. This is especially true when you are dealing with potentially delicate matters such as family relationships.
  • Mention the statement to the teacher afterwards so that he/she can pick up if appropriate.

Hide clues...

Resources for Clergy and Teachers

This is Our Faith

Jeffrey, John
1995, Redemptorist Publications ISBN 0 852 31149 4

The chapter on 'The Spirit for Our Wounded World' explores the ideas of sin and suffering and the 'Healing Spirit' explores the sacrament of reconciliation. These Christian ideas are explained clearly and give a broad basis for the discussion of particularities, such as responses to abortion.

Faith For The Future

Walter, M
1997, Redemptorist Publications ISBN 0 852 31167 2

This book, which presents the teaching of the Catholic Church, has chapters on the commandments which may be of use. The text is accessible and communicates basic principles that could form the basis of discussion.

Resources for pupils

Religion in Focus: Christianity in Today's World

Clinton, C et al
1998, John Murray ISBN 0 719 57193 6

This pupil book (which is also accompanied by a Teachers' Resource Book) offers an interesting introduction to dealing with moral issues. It offers the tool of a 'Moral Ocean', which identifies a variety of 'islands' (e.g. conscience; past experience; TV; Bible; Pope; secular wisdom; to name a few) which pupils can use to begin to explore the complexity of making moral decisions. It also has a specific chapter which poses the question 'Why do many Christians oppose abortion?' Although it is aimed at Key Stage 4 pupils, the activities and ideas are easily adapted for Year 9 pupils.

Exploring Ethics

Hayward, J, Jones, G and Mason, M
2000, John Murray ISBN 0 719 57181 2

This book is an activity book, designed for use with Key Stage 4 and A Level students. The activities encourage pupils to think critically for themselves about values and moral decision making. It is a book that broadens your horizons as to the type of activity that can take place in the classroom. To this end it is well worth looking at!