Is It Ethical To Expel Children Carrying Drugs Or Alcohol To School?
Applied Ethics Assignment 1
Is it ethical to expel children carrying drugs or alcohol to school?
In this essay, I am going to discuss the case of 1000 New Zealand schoolchildren being excluded for offences involving drugs or alcohol. I intend to explore key ethical issues surrounding this case and hope to conclude whether expulsion for these offences is the best course of action or not. I will refer to Utilitarianism and the Social Contract Theory to determine whether exclusion of these children will benefit society, or not.
Last year, over “1000 schoolchildren were suspended, excluded or expelled from New Zealand schools last year for drugs or alcohol-related offences, with the youngest aged 8” (Stuff, 2013). The …show more content…
Firstly, because the child has been expelled, he may lose interest in studying altogether. It is a proven fact that schools provide a protective environment that shields people from drug abuse (Bell, 2013). If they are unable to stay in that protected environment before entering the proverbial ‘real world’ there is a chance that they may be negatively influenced and resort to a life of crime, drug abuse and other anti-social behaviour. The second consequence of one child caught in possession of drugs being expelled could serve as an example to the other children. This might cause them to refrain from coming in contact with drugs fearing punishment. Although the second consequence appears to be feasible, as many children would benefit from one child being expelled and being made an example of, it is not guaranteed that other children will not indulge in drugs and alcohol outside school. Also, going by Rule Utilitarianism, if expelling children became the norm, crime, unemployment and illiteracy rates would rise and this in turn would affect the entire nation negatively. Therefore, Act and Rule Utilitarians would agree that expelling children found in possession of narcotics would be very unethical, as it would cause much more unhappiness than happiness. Also, since Utilitarians believe that everyone’s happiness is equal, and that motives and intentions don’t matter, causing unhappiness to one child and to the general population in the long run by expelling him from school is something they would advocate
Is it ethical to expel children carrying drugs or alcohol to school?
In this essay, I am going to discuss the case of 1000 New Zealand schoolchildren being excluded for offences involving drugs or alcohol. I intend to explore key ethical issues surrounding this case and hope to conclude whether expulsion for these offences is the best course of action or not. I will refer to Utilitarianism and the Social Contract Theory to determine whether exclusion of these children will benefit society, or not.
Last year, over “1000 schoolchildren were suspended, excluded or expelled from New Zealand schools last year for drugs or alcohol-related offences, with the youngest aged 8” (Stuff, 2013). The …show more content…
Firstly, because the child has been expelled, he may lose interest in studying altogether. It is a proven fact that schools provide a protective environment that shields people from drug abuse (Bell, 2013). If they are unable to stay in that protected environment before entering the proverbial ‘real world’ there is a chance that they may be negatively influenced and resort to a life of crime, drug abuse and other anti-social behaviour. The second consequence of one child caught in possession of drugs being expelled could serve as an example to the other children. This might cause them to refrain from coming in contact with drugs fearing punishment. Although the second consequence appears to be feasible, as many children would benefit from one child being expelled and being made an example of, it is not guaranteed that other children will not indulge in drugs and alcohol outside school. Also, going by Rule Utilitarianism, if expelling children became the norm, crime, unemployment and illiteracy rates would rise and this in turn would affect the entire nation negatively. Therefore, Act and Rule Utilitarians would agree that expelling children found in possession of narcotics would be very unethical, as it would cause much more unhappiness than happiness. Also, since Utilitarians believe that everyone’s happiness is equal, and that motives and intentions don’t matter, causing unhappiness to one child and to the general population in the long run by expelling him from school is something they would advocate