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MAXIMize the Moment Junior Volume 2, Issue 25

MAXIMize the Moment Junior Volume 2, Issue 25

March 10, 2003
Document
Topic: 
MAXIMize the Moment Junior
Ethical Value: 
Peer pressure
Ethical Value: 
Friendship
Ethical Value: 
Gossip
Ethical Value: 
Keeping promises
Ethical Value: 
Martin Luther King Jr Day
Ethical Value: 
Black History Month
Ethical Value: 
Kindness
Ethical Value: 
Courage
Ethical Value: 
Integrity
Age Range: 
8-10

Story

"Rachel, I promise not to tell anyone. Tell me. Who do you like?" Caitlin asks.

Rachel doesn't know Caitlin like I do. If she did, she'd keep her mouth shut. Before the end of school today, everyone will know Rachel's secret. That's just how Caitlin is.

I want to warn Rachel, but Caitlin would get mad and the rest of our friends will, too. I wonder why everyone follows Caitlin's lead. Maybe, like me, they figure it's easier to be on her good side than it is to deal with her anger.

A few minutes later, there's a note going around the room and soon everyone knows Rachel's precious secret. People are giggling and Rachel seems totally embarrassed.

I feel awful for her and bad about myself. I didn't write the note, but I feel responsible. I should have warned her somehow and prevented this from happening. I think of a quote we learned for Martin Luther King's birthday: "We… remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Next time, I hope I have the courage to do what's right-to be honest and take a stand. Dr. King was right. "We… remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." I don't want to be remembered as someone who didn't care or have enough courage to do what's right. I want to be a good friend-who uses silence to keep secrets, not let wrong happen.

Maxim

  • "We… remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Character points

  • Integrity - My actions and decisions are guided by my values.
  • Courage - Even when it is difficult, I do what is right.
  • Character - I have the strength to live out my beliefs.
  • Caring - I recognize that my actions affect others and I try to do what is best for them.
  • Sensitivity - I am aware of the needs and feelings of others.
  • Love - I try to do what is best for others because I really care about them.
  • Kindness - I treat others with the care and concern they deserve.

Homeroom Discussion Information

  • What is "gossip?" Does the information have to be untrue to be gossip?
  • How do you feel about yourself when someone catches you gossiping about him/her?
  • How do you think that other person feels?
  • Would you want to be friends with someone who had a reputation for being a gossip?
  • How should the narrator have handled this situation? How could she have helped Rachel?
  • The narrator wanted to say something and help Rachel, but she was afraid her friends would get mad. If she had decided to say something, would that have been disloyal to Caitlin?
  • Does loyalty mean that we agree with everything our friends do?
  • What makes it difficult to do the right thing?
  • Do you think it is harder to know the right thing to do or to actually do it?
  • What helps you to do the right thing, even when you are hesitant or afraid to take action?

Home-Use Information

Five tips for maxim-izing your family time

  • Work through the idea of loyalty. Do all people deserve loyalty? How do you know when someone no longer deserves your loyalty?
  • Try to come up with examples of people who choose to do the right thing, even though some people might consider their actions "disloyal."
  • Use this time as an opportunity to discuss with your child what information is appropriate for family members to make public and what needs to remain within the confines of your family itself. Conversely, if your children already respects the intimacy of the family, you can use that as a jumping off point for a discussion of how even truthful information is not always appropriate to share.
  • Be honest with your kids. Tell them about a time that you chose to or not to gossip about how that made you feel about yourself.
  • Share a story-you can use an example of a time that gossip hurt you or that you hurt someone else or a relationship by gossiping.

Discussion starters

  • Some people think that having courage means that you are not afraid to do dangerous things. Is that a good description? Why or why not?
  • Is the courage described in today's story that sort of courage? Why or why not?
  • Can someone be considered to have good character if he/she wants to do the right thing, but lacks the courage to act on his/her beliefs? Why or why not?
  • Describe a healthy friendship. What are some characteristics of a solid friendship?
  • Do you think that Caitlin and the narrator have a good friendship? Explain.
  • How would you feel if you were Rachel and everyone found out your big secret?
    Why do you think people have such a hard time keeping secrets?
  • How can overcome the temptation to share information that you shouldn't? What helps you be a good secret-keeper?
  • Are their secrets that shouldn't be kept? What kinds of secrets shouldn't be shared with other people? What kind should?

Be sure to acknowledge the courage your children show in talking with you about these issues.

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