You are on page 1of 13

Running head: RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

Responsibility To Others And The Larger Community


Michael Wahl
University of San Diego

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

Introduction
The personal ethical issue I have struggled with this semester is that my current summer
program boss (a fellow teacher at my school) is having an affair with a younger female teacher
who also works at the school. The male teacher has two children at the school and he has
worked there for more than 15 years and is a beloved member of the community and currently
the athletic director and head of the schools summer program. A younger early childhood
teacher confided in my wife that this affair was ongoing when my wife asked what was wrong
one morning. I work in a completely different part of the building so my relationship with this
young woman is not as strong as the working relationship my wife has with the young woman.
In being privy to this information I have two ethical dilemmas.
The first being do I confront my colleague, letting him know this is no longer a secret
consensual relationship between the parties involved. The second issue is do I have an
obligation to let the school administration know that I have become aware of the situation? What
truly makes this an issue I must confront is that as my colleague has been the director of the
summer camp for the last five years. My wife and I currently comprise two thirds of the
administrative team for my schools summer program. Last summer, I was unofficially
approached by the current head of the board of trustees asking simply if I would be interested in
being the director of the summer camp If the position became available?
I need to have a working relationship with my colleague throughout the school year and
especially during the summer. What impacts would me knowing about this situation have on my
ability to continue to work at the school, both during the academic year as well as during the
summer program if and when the issue becomes known to the school administration?
I want to be looked at as a leader and potential administrator at the school so, do I have
the obligation to voice my opinion about an issue that I dont think this is morally right? Will
others question my integrity, if this issue becomes public and they found out I knew about it?

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

My current position on this issue is that I am still not sure who else in the school community
knows about the relationship. The school is a small and tight knit community so I doubt this
adultery/ relationship will stay a secret forever. Is it my place to say something to the schools
administration? I dont think it truly is.
Ive certainly made mistakes before and the school supported me through the process me
and kept my situation totally quiet. Is voicing my knowledge of the situation to my colleague
first, worth risking the good relationship I have with this colleague? Is it worth mentioning if it
means the potential loss of my summer program position? Finally what would the impact be for
his children who attend the school if this became public knowledge or if either of the staff
members involved were not asked back?
II. Discernment and analysis of ethical issue
A. Major ethical theories
Weston defines the Ethics of Virtue as those moral values concerned with character:
with traits like self discipline, responsibility, honesty, charity, loyalty and devotion (Weston,
2013, p. 173). It seems clear that my summer camp boss has violated the traits of self-discipline,
loyalty and devotion when discussing his choice to be involved in committing adultery. This was
the first theory I used to justify the fact that I should make the administration aware of his
transgressions; because if I chose not to divulge the information to the schools administration I
was in fact violating the virtues of honesty, and loyalty toward the organization.
Ethics of Relationship encompasses moral values concerned with our connections to
others, e.g. family, larger human community; draws from gratefulness and responsibility to care
for and participate in communities. Again it seems clear that my summer camp boss has made a
significant mistake in his decision to commit adultery with another teacher who also works at the
school. While adultery is morally wrong, the fact that it is two members of the schools faculty
that are involved means that it becomes a community issue not merely a personal one. If we are

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

supposed to be creating a community where values like truth, loyalty and self- discipline are
valued how can these two continue to be a part of the school community and it would be my duty
to inform the schools administrative team and let them make their decision. There is a precedent
where at least one of the faculty members was not asked back when a situation of adultery
between faculty members at the school previously arose.
Weston states that in the Ethics of Person that people are special, precious, and have a
dignity that demands respect and are worthy of fairness, justice, and equality as well as possess
civil rights (Weston, 2013, p. 112). Understanding the Ethics of Person makes me less likely
to be the one to divulge the gleaned information to the schools administration. I certainly do not
know the status of my colleagues marriage, his internal motivations or how he would attempt to
justify his actions. Not being privy to that information makes it very difficult for me to be fair as
I judge the situation. Personally, I define fairness as a reaction to a person or situation based
on a wealth of information and making the decision that is best for that individual in the long
run.
In searching for a solution I researched what Kant might say is the correct way to solve
the issue. While Kant claims that by comparing motivation by duty with other sorts of motives,
in particular, with motives of self-interest, self-preservation, sympathy and happiness. He argues
that a dutiful action from any of these motives, however praiseworthy it may be, does not express
a good will (Johnson, R). This statement by Kant is what truly makes this an ethical dilemma
for me. If I bring my summer camp bosses transgression to light, which I believe my ethics and
duty compel me to, and I even potentially benefit from doing so am I truly exercising good will?
No matter how noble my intentions might it lead others to question my motivations and
character?
The Ethics of Happiness (Weston, 2013, p. 143-148) challenges us to achieve the greatest
balance of happiness (well-being, satisfaction, pleasure), over suffering; quantitative, economic,

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

maximizing social benefits. According to this set of ethics I also believe that it is not my place to
bring my bosses transgressions to light. It has certainly upset my own well being, minimized
my pleasure while thinking about all of the ramifications, and it has impacted my overall
satisfaction with my job and the school community.
Exposing this affair will certainly have negative personal and professional consequences
for my summer camp boss. In a worst-case scenario they could lead to his dismissal from his
position, negatively impacting his financial well being and family. It could cause tremendous
personal pain and suffering for my summer camp boss, his wife and his two children who attend
the school. Utilitarianism the greatest good for the greatest number is stated in Benthams
principle of utility (Weston, 2013, p. 150) also leads me toward continued silence. I would not
be maximizing the social benefit to the school community by depriving it of a beloved faculty
member who has served the school for more than a decade. The long-term impacts on his
children and their position in the community also lead me to believe that it is not my place to
bring this issue to light.
B. Tools to solve ethical issues
An important ethical tool Weston provides is the idea of response-ability (Weston, 2013,
p. 423-424, 439-444) self-possession, cultivating response-ability, stop going along with things,
create alternative momentum for ourselves. Response-ability leads me toward the decision to
have the secrecy stop with me. If I refuse to remain silent any longer and stop going along with
things as they are I believe to be morally wrong then at least I have made my moral stance. I
would feel confident that the schools administration would protect my anonymity though I could
never be totally sure. I believe leaders are called to act and sitting on this information has been
very difficult for me.

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

Another ethical tool Weston writes about is when values clash (Weston, 2013, p. 312323). When truly opposite values conflict, at least split the difference, focus on interests, no
position, work from common ground or deeper shared values. This tool makes me lean toward
having a difficult conversation with my summer camp boss before potentially approaching the
schools administration. I would not impart judgment about the situation; instead I would merely
let him know that the situation is no longer a secret, even inside the schools faculty. This would
put him in a position to make some sort of action without any threat of whistleblowing on my
part.
Utilizing when values clash springboards nicely to another one of Westons ethical tools,
dialogue states to slow down and listen, connect, welcome openings and opportunities, stay
engaged (Weston, 2013, p. 279-288). I have known this man, his wife and children for over a
decade. If he was willing to, after some initial emotions subsided, I would be happy to speak
with him confidentially and try and help him arrive at the most utilitarian solution. I would be an
empathetic listener and do my best not to judge but to connect while he is trying to decide how to
handle the situation. I would not be able to dictate what the correct solution is but I would do my
best to help him arrive at one where all parties needs are at least considered.
Creative problem solving would be the final step in evaluating the dilemma. Similar to
the ethical tool of dialogue, it recommends getting a fuller picture, finding out more info and
details, watching for suggestive facts, getting help, and exploring how the same problem is
treated in other places and times (Weston, 2013, p. 342-354). I would ask for help from other
educators I trust, who were not connected in any way with the school I presently work for. As
this is not an isolated incident even at our school, I am sure other school communities have had
to deal with similar issues.
C. Major Ethical concepts

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

1. Ethics and self


The superego is like a tape playing in our heads of all the things we should and have-to
do that we metaphorically heard in the process of growing up under the influence of authority
figures (Gula p.13). The super ego is where I really wrestle with what to do. I believe that I am a
morally upstanding person and that far more often than not I choose to do the morally right thing.
In this situation I believe the morally right thing would be to ultimately let the administration
know that I became aware of the situation between my summer camp boss and another faculty
member and what they choose to do with it from there is not entirely my concern. My
interactions with authority have often led me to make decisions based on what I believe the
authority would want me to do, and what I believe is morally correct.
Additionally, Gula states superego is oriented primarily toward authority: not a matter of
responding to values but of obeying the command of authority blindly (Gula, 1997, p. 15). This
is difficult because there is no official school policy or even a statement in the faculty handbook
about what we might be expected to do in a situation where something like this has occurred.
However, our moral code and faculty handbook make us legally mandated reporters if we believe
a child has been abused. However, this situation is comprised of two consenting adults, choosing
to repeatedly engage in a morally questionable, though not technically illegal behavior. The
young female teacher is not a direct report to my summer camp boss in either his role during the
summer or as the schools athletic director during the year, so it is not legally a harassment issue
either.
Being conscience is doing what the truest self would want to do. The shoulds and havetos belong to someone else (Gula p.13-14). My truest self would want to offer to help my
summer camp boss resolve the issue on his own so that I would not have to offer the information
to the schools administration because it is not my transgression or mistake. My sense of ethics
will not let me peacefully sit with that decision though.

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

3. Ethical leadership and followership


Evil and leadership and followership are present in two different forms in this dilemma.
Evil as deception where individuals consider themselves above reproach and project their
shortcomings, attacking anyone who threatens their self-concepts. They are consumed with
keeping up appearances. They deceive themselves and others in hopes of projecting a righteous
image (Johnson, C. p. 106-107). I fear that my previous mistakes would be used against me if I
attempted to bring this situation to the schools administration. The handful of administrators
who know might listen and ask me why I thought it was necessary to bring up the wrongdoings
of others when they had supported me through my own difficulties early in my career. I would
not want to lose face with the schools administrative team and if I exposed the situation I would
fear that the administration might think less of me. I admit that the shadow in that keeping up
appearances is important to me, my professional name and everything Ive worked hard for to
this point potentially rests on the decisions I make regarding this situation. I wouldnt fear
personal or professional retaliation but I would fear the alienation that could accompany being
the whistleblower once the situation is over. Like I mentioned earlier, secrets dont stay secrets
in a small community like this.
In trying to combat these evils Ive been practicing more mindfulness in hopes of being
able to concentrate on the things I need to get done and to avoid this situation occupying all of
my school related thoughts and interactions. After some reflection and journaling, I have been
able to forgive my wife for telling me about the situation. At first I blamed her, feeling if she had
never told me then I wouldnt be involved. I thought about how difficult that conversation must
have been for her to have with the young lady involved in the affair. If I am going to truly be
supportive of my wife I would not want her to have to face this situation alone.

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

Breaking the cycle of evil by forgiving instead of retaliating, resist situational pressures
by admitting mistakes, not relying on scripts from the past, maintaining personal accountability,
dont let others take away your individuality, distinguish between those in authority who deserve
your respect and those who are leading others astray promoting their own interests, resist social
pressure by stepping out of the group (Johnson, C. p. 111-112). I will have to forgive myself for
taking a stand and doing whatever I think is right. That will be the only thing that helps me
move forward from this situation. While I respect my summer camp boss as a professional, I
cant totally respect him as a person. If he continues to be a member of the schools
administrative team what does that say about our schools leaders? I also have to remember that I
am not the one who has done something ethically wrong here in the workplace. He is promoting
his own interests and I have to look out for the best interest of the students and the entire
community. Although his decisions will undoubtedly have a big immediate impact on his family
we must also consider the long-term health of the community. If I dont say anything what does
that say about my character, and level of professionalism.
III. Proposed solutions
My proposed solution is to have a one to one conversation with my summer camp boss
letting him know that the adulterous relationship is no longer a secret among the faculty at our
school. I will not judge, I will express how difficult this has been for me to deal with as a
colleague and a friend. I will not bring the relationship to the attention of the administration
unless it impacts my and or my wifes ability to be a member of the schools summer
administrative team. I feel imposing deadlines on him speaking to the administration is
essentially blackmail because I potentially stand to gain from his removal as summer director
and I will not do it as of May 3, 2015. I certainly reserve the right to defend my position if ever
directly questioned. However, I will not be seeking out others, administration or other faculty

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

10

members, to let them know about the situation my summer camp boss finds himself in. I learned
in the article that someone who is not directly involved in a situation is significantly less likely to
report the situation. The diagram enclosed in appendix 1 figure 2 from the Sperry article helped
me realize that as difficult as my decision was I am not alone in how I chose to handle the
situation.
IV. Action plan
First, I will speak to my wife about my decision. We have not mentioned these issues to
each other except for a handful of times in the past three months. I will alert her of my decision
on May 18th. Next, I have a weekly meeting about summer camp already scheduled with my
boss each Tuesday. These are closed-door meetings so it will not appear different than any other
Tuesday meeting since we returned from spring break. I will plan to address my knowledge of
the situation at our meeting on Tuesday May 26th, while making sure to respect his
confidentiality and to offer my potential help in resolving the issue in a manner I deem ethically
acceptable. Finally, I will follow up the conversation with my summer camp boss on the 26th
with a conversation with my USD appointed mentor; who is a dean of students at a large private
school in the western United States. My mentor has served as a confidant about this struggle
since I became aware of it. His school has written policies in place to deal with such instances
(Maxie, K, personal communication) and he admittedly struggled to advise me in how to deal
with the situation because of the multitude of layers it had. And because At many other
companies, the rules are ambiguous. First Chicago NBD Corp., for instance, has no written
policy on dating co-workers. "We let common sense take over," said spokesman Thomas Kelly.
Spouses aren't allowed to work for each other at First Chicago, but most other situations, if they
cause a disturbance, are handled case by case, Mr. Kelly said. (Chase p,5)
Our next meeting will take place in early June after both of our school years have ended.
V. Final reflection

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY

11

Writing in our Journal for class was helpful in synthesizing the readings, as I was able to
immediately react to how I felt and how I had responded at various times in my life. After taking
the strengths finder and realizing harmony was my top strength and seeing how those elements
are glaring in my solution really made me reflect on the type of leader I am.
I found the input of peers absolutely unhelpful in solving my ethical. Each friend offered
their own solutions that were influenced by their own ethics and biases. Though they meant well
I could not use their reasoning to either confirm or deny my own feelings that oscillated
tremendously throughout the process. I referenced our Weston texts list of virtues multiple
times as I thought about how I might be able to solve the problem.
I found the readings on forgiveness useful in preparing my proposed solution. I had to
realize that it was not my situation and that I will have to do my best to truly understand what my
summer camp boss is going through to understand why he made the choices he did. I can forgive
him for being human, we all make mistakes. However, the ongoing nature of these mistakes does
lead me to question his character and ethics. I have to refrain from judgment and remember that
everyone is doing the best that they can at a given time in their given situations.

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY


References
Chase, Brett . 1997 Risk management: Dating subordinates is widely
prohibited. American Banker. 6/17/1997, Vol. 162 Issue 115, p5. 2/5p.
Gula, R.M (1997). Conscience. In R. M. Gula, Moral discernment. (Pp. 11-40). Mahwah, NJ:
Paulist Press
Johnson, C.E. (2011). The leaders light or shadow. In C. E. Johnson (4 ED.), Meeting the
ethical challenges of leadership: Casting light or shadow. (Pp. 3-30). Thousand Oaks, CA:
SAGE Publications.
th

Johnson, C.E. (2011). Combating evil. In C. E. Johnson (4 ED.), Meeting the ethical challenges
of leadership: Casting light or shadow. (Pp. 106-126). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
th

Johnson, Robert, "Kant's Moral Philosophy", The Stanford Encyclopedia of


Philosophy (Summer 2014 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL =
<http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2014/entries/kant-moral/>.
Shelton, C. M. (2000). Achieving moral health: An exercise plan for you conscience. New York:
A Crossroad Publishing Company
Sperry, Lynn-Bowles., Kelly, Anne- OLeary. 2005 To act or not to act: The dilemma faced by
sexual harassment observers Academy of Management Review, Vol. 30, No. 2, 288306.
Weston, A. (2013). A 21 century ethical toolbox. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
st

RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS AND THE COMMUNITY


Appendix - FIGURE 2
Potential Routes to Observer Intervention in Sexual Harassment

You might also like