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By admin,

Excerpted from Building Decision Skills, 4th edition. Copyright 2008, Institute for Global Ethics

Maria and Susan became friends when they started junior high school. They found they had a lot of the same interests, such as boys, clothes, and having fun. But while Maria was happy with the friends she made, Susan always seemed to be seeking more. Maria knew Susan had a rough home life. Susan’s parents were always yelling at her and didn’t care about what she was doing in school.

Now Maria and Susan are starting their freshman year in high school. Susan has gotten really skinny over the summer, and it’s paying off. She’s being invited to the best parties and dating the most popular guys. She’s developing a reputation for being “loose” because of the way she acts to get attention, but tells Maria that she’s really happy. The two girls see less and less of each other that fall, but during Christmas vacation they make a plan to meet at the mall and do some shopping.

When Susan arrives at their meeting place, Maria barely recognizes her. She is so thin she looks ill, and Maria confronts her right away. Susan admits what Maria suspects: she’s avoiding food and lying to everyone to cover it up. Susan laughs off her friend’s concern, but Maria finds the new so disturbing, she has a hard time enjoying their afternoon together. Should she try to help Susan by talking to someone about her condition, or not get involved?

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By admin,

Excerpted from Building Decision Skills, 4th edition. Copyright 2008, Institute for Global Ethics

Noah and Greg had been good friends forever–at least through elementary and junior high school. They live next door to each door, and their parents are friends, too.

Now that they’re in high school, Noah and Greg have drifted apart. While Greg finds he’s accepted by a crowd of people with a wild reputation, Noah chooses a quieter set of friends. One day, Greg confides to Noah that alcohol flows pretty freely at some of the parties he’s attended.

A few weeks later Noah receives a telephone call from Greg’s mother. She asks if he knows whether or not Greg has been drinking with his new group of friends. Noah is troubled. Should he tell Greg’s mother what he knows or keep the information to himself?