20 Ethics Scenarios For High Schoolers To Learn Its Importance

Ethics is the study of moral principles and values that guide our actions and decisions. As young people navigate their way through high school, they encounter numerous ethical scenarios that require critical thinking and decision-making. After all, acquiring these skills can be on the high schooler’s bucket list.

From cheating on a test to cyberbullying, the choices they make can have significant consequences for themselves and others. In this article, we will explore some common ethical scenarios for high school students, and provide thought-provoking questions and insights to help them analyze these situations and make informed ethical choices. 

By engaging in these scenarios, students can develop their moral reasoning, cultivate empathy, and enhance their ability to act with integrity, compassion, and social responsibility.

Ethics scenarios for high schoolers: Can you make the right call?

Like some work scenarios, the scenarios presented in this list are designed to challenge high school students to think critically about ethical issues and make responsible decisions. These scenarios cover a range of situations that students may encounter in their daily lives, and each one presents a unique ethical dilemma that requires careful consideration.

By working through these scenarios, students can develop a better understanding of their own values and principles, as well as the importance of acting with integrity and responsibility.

1. You see a classmate cheating on a test. Do you report them to the teacher?

This scenario involves a moral dilemma of honesty and integrity. You have to decide whether to report your classmate who is cheating on a test or not. Reporting them could potentially get them in trouble and face disciplinary actions, but it’s also important to uphold academic honesty and ensure that grades are earned fairly.

2. Your friends are planning to sneak into an R-rated movie. Do you go along with them or refuse?

In this situation, a choice must be made on whether to act in a way that is unsuitable or against the law. While it could be appealing to follow your friends’ lead, it’s necessary to think about the repercussions of breaking the law and if it’s worthwhile to run the risk of being discovered and possibly receiving punishment.

3. You witness someone stealing from a store. Do you confront them or report them to the authorities?

In this case, the choice is between intervening to stop the crime from being committed and reporting it to the police. It’s crucial to think about your personal security and the possible outcomes of confronting a thief. Making a report to the authorities about the occurrence might also aid in ensuring that justice is done.

4. You discover a wallet on the ground with money inside. Do you keep it or try to find the owner?

A choice must be made about ethics and honesty in this situation. The effect on the individual who lost the wallet should be carefully considered, as should whether you would want someone to replace your valuables if you lost them. Trust and honesty may be upheld by looking for the owner and returning the wallet.

5. You hear a rumor about a friend that could potentially harm their reputation. Do you share it with others or keep it to yourself?

This scenario involves a decision on whether to engage in gossip or to protect your friend’s reputation. It’s important to consider the potential harm that spreading the rumor could cause and whether it’s worth potentially damaging a friendship.

6. You see someone being bullied. Do you intervene or stay out of it?

In this case, the choice is between standing by and doing nothing or taking action to stop bullying. You should think about your own safety as well as the safety of the harassed individual. Bullying may be stopped and possibly avoided in the future by speaking up and defending the victim.

7. A friend wants to borrow money from you, but you know they won’t be able to pay you back. Do you still lend them the money?

In this situation, you must decide whether to give money to a buddy who is in need despite the possibility that they won’t be able to pay you back. It’s crucial to take into account both your personal financial condition and the potential effects that lending money to a buddy could have.

8. You accidentally break a valuable item that belongs to someone else. Do you offer to pay for it or pretend it never happened?

An ethical and moral choice must be made in this situation. The effect on the owner of the object and whether you would want the same thing done for you if the roles were reversed should both be taken into account. Maintaining honesty and trust might be made easier by offering to pay for the item.

9. You know that a friend is struggling with a mental health issue, but they haven’t shared it with anyone. Do you bring it up to them or wait for them to talk to you?

In this situation, you must choose how to approach a buddy who could be experiencing mental health problems. It’s crucial to think about how bringing up the subject would affect your friendship and whether your buddy would be open to talking about it.

10. You’re invited to a party where there will be underage drinking. Do you attend or decline the invitation?

In this situation, a choice must be made on whether to act in a way that is unsuitable or against the law. Even though it could be alluring to go to a party and engage in underage drinking, it’s crucial to think about the potential repercussions of breaching the law and perhaps endangering others as well as yourself.

11. You have the opportunity to cheat on a test without getting caught. Do you take advantage of the opportunity or do the work honestly?

Choosing honesty and integrity is necessary. It’s critical to think about the potential effects cheating might have on your academic career and decide if the danger of being detected and suffering disciplinary action is worth it.

12. You discover that a friend is involved in a toxic relationship. Do you confront them about it or stay out of it?

In this case, you must choose whether to help a buddy who is involved in a possibly dangerous situation. It’s crucial to take into account your friendship with your buddy and whether they would be open to talking about the matter.

13. You find out that a popular student is spreading rumors about you. Do you confront them or try to ignore them?

This scenario involves a decision on how to handle rumors and potentially harmful behavior directed toward you. It’s important to consider the impact that confronting the person could have on your relationship with them and whether it’s worth potentially escalating the situation.

14. You see someone littering on the street. Do you confront them or let them go?

This scenario involves a decision on whether to intervene in an environmental issue involving littering. It’s important to consider the impact that confronting the person could have on your own safety and whether it’s worth potentially escalating the situation.

15. You have the opportunity to copy someone else’s homework without getting caught. Do you take advantage of the opportunity or do the work honestly?

A choice must be made about ethics and honesty in this situation. It’s crucial to think about the potential effects that plagiarising assignments might have on your academic career and decide whether the risk of being found and incurring consequences is worthwhile.

16. You see someone being racially or culturally insensitive towards another person. Do you confront them or stay out of it?

This scenario involves a decision on whether to intervene in a potentially harmful situation involving racism or cultural insensitivity. It’s important to consider the impact that confronting the person could have on your own safety and whether it’s worth potentially escalating the situation.

17. You’re asked to participate in a school prank that could potentially harm someone or cause damage. Do you participate or refuse?

In this situation, a choice must be made on whether to take actions that can endanger or injure others. It’s critical to think about the possible outcomes of engaging in the prank and if the danger of being caught and maybe receiving punishment is worthwhile.

18. You discover that a friend is engaging in self-harm. Do you confront them or seek help from a trusted adult?

This scenario involves a decision on how to approach a friend who may be struggling with mental health issues and engaging in harmful behavior. It’s important to consider the potential impact that confronting the person could have on your relationship with them and whether seeking help from a trusted adult would be more appropriate.

19. You witness someone being dishonest about their qualifications or experience on a job application. Do you confront them or report it to the employer?

It involves a decision on whether to intervene in a potentially unethical situation involving dishonesty on a job application. It’s important to consider the potential impact that confronting the person could have on your own safety and whether it’s worth potentially escalating the situation.

20. You’re asked to participate in a social media challenge that could potentially harm someone or cause damage. Do you participate or refuse?

This scenario involves a decision on whether to engage in behavior that could potentially harm someone or cause damage, specifically through a social media challenge. It’s important to consider the potential consequences of participating in the challenge and whether it’s worth risking getting caught and potentially facing punishment

Benefits of using scenarios to teach ethics

Using scenarios to teach ethics has numerous benefits, including:

• Real-world relevance: Scenarios are often based on real-world situations that students are likely to encounter, which makes the lessons more relevant and engaging. Ethics education that is purely theoretical or abstract may be less interesting to students and less effective at promoting ethical decision-making.
• Active learning: Scenarios require students to actively engage in problem-solving and decision-making, rather than simply memorizing abstract concepts. This approach fosters a deeper understanding and critical thinking skills, as students are challenged to apply ethical principles to concrete situations and make informed decisions.
• Application of ethical principles: Scenarios provide a practical context for applying ethical principles to real-world situations. Rather than learning ethics in isolation, students can see how moral reasoning can be used to make ethical choices in real life.
• Empathy development: Scenarios often require students to consider the perspectives and needs of others, promoting the development of empathy and social awareness. For example, a scenario about cyberbullying may ask students to consider the impact of their actions on the victim and others who are affected. The same can be done through some kindness activities for the high schoolers.
• Safe space for exploration: Scenarios provide a safe space for students to explore ethical dilemmas and make mistakes without facing real-world consequences. This can be particularly important for students who may not have had much experience with ethical decision-making or who may be hesitant to speak up in class.
• Engagement with diverse perspectives: Scenarios can be used to explore different ethical perspectives and cultural contexts. By examining ethical issues from different angles, students can broaden their understanding of ethics and develop a tolerance for diverse viewpoints.

Overall, the use of scenarios in ethics education can help students to develop the critical thinking, moral reasoning, and empathy skills necessary to make ethical choices and act with integrity in the real world.

By engaging with real-world scenarios, students can develop a deeper understanding of the complexities of ethical decision-making, and be better equipped to navigate the ethical challenges they will face in their lives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, teaching high school students about ethics is an important aspect of their development as responsible and ethical individuals which further acts as helpful life skills activities. By presenting real-life scenarios that challenge students to think critically and make responsible decisions, we can help them develop a better understanding of ethical issues and the impact of their choices on others.

These scenarios cover a range of situations that students may encounter in their daily lives, from academic dishonesty to discrimination, and each one presents a unique ethical dilemma that requires careful consideration. By encouraging students to think deeply about these scenarios and make responsible choices, we can help them become more ethical and responsible members of society.