written by Nancy DeFrates-Densch of Northern Illinois University

The Fight

In the wake of several school tragedies over the past few years, many schools, including the one in which Miss Mahoney teaches, are placing considerable emphasis on character education as a means of violence prevention. The basic idea is to promote empathy among children and to disallow behaviors such as teasing, name-calling, and threats of any kind. Miss Mahoney has included character education in the curriculum of her fifth grade class. Yet many of her students, particularly the boys, continue to exhibit the very behaviors she is trying to eliminate.

John and Luke are on the same club soccer team and often get into verbal conflicts with each other, though they generally appreciate each other's talents on the field. Tuesday night at soccer practice, in violation of the team's rules, John told Luke that he "sucks." Luke decided to let it go because he did not want John to suffer a one-game suspension; he recognized John's value to the team and they were facing a tough opponent that weekend.

Thursday in class, the boys had an argument. John accused Luke of stealing the cards he was using to organize a project. John was very angry. Luke also became angry and claimed he did not steal them. He then found them on the floor and handed them to John. "Here's your dumb cards, John," he said. "See, I didn't steal them."

In anger, John said, "Fine. Then how come they're all crinkled? You know, I could beat you up and maybe I just will."

"Yeah, right. You and who else?" asked Luke with a sneer.

Two other boys working nearby overheard the altercation and began contributing their perspectives.

"Yeah, John, Luke would kick your butt, " said Grant.

"I think John would win," said Peter.

"Meet me at the park tomorrow after school and let's just see!" demanded John.

"No problem," retorted Luke.

Thursday evening they were both at soccer practice. Nothing was said about the fight that was to take place the next day after school.

Friday morning John's mother called Miss Mahoney to tell her that John was afraid to come to school because Luke had threatened to beat him up. Obviously, Miss Mahoney was concerned and realized she must address the situation. John's mother also talked to the principal about the situation. However, all John's mother told either of them was that Luke had threatened to beat up her son. She didn't know why and did not think the reason mattered in the least. She wanted her son protected and the other boy punished.

That morning Luke's mother was in the school for another purpose. The principal stopped her to talk about the situation, telling her that John had told his mother he was afraid to come to school because Luke was going to beat him up. Luke's mother asked for more information. Upon hearing John's side of the story, which was simply that Luke had threatened him (a violation of school rules, for obvious reasons) she told the principal that this didn't sound right --that Luke is impulsive enough that if he'd wanted to beat up John, he probably would have just hit him, not planned a fight for a later date. She wanted to talk to Luke before she jumped to any conclusions, and asked that Miss Mahoney and the principal talk to both of the boys and any other children involved.

Both Miss Mahoney and the principal did as Luke's mother asked. The story that came out is the one you read. They decided that Luke should serve an in-school suspension the following day and miss recess all week "because it is the third 'incident' we've had with him this year." John received no punishment from the school and walked away from the meeting grinning.

1		What are the issues in this case?
2		At what stage of moral development would you expect these boys to be, on the basis of the information you have? (Check out "Moral Development Tutorial".) What predictions can you make regarding each boy's sense of self and emotional development?
3		What can you say about the boys' mothers?
4		What do you think about the punishment that Luke received? And John? How would you have handled the situation? (Check out "Violence in the Schools".)
5		What impact do you think this will have on the boys' future relationship? What impact on their attitudes toward school?