An ethical dilemma is an issue that confuses a person on the course of actions to take (Shapiro 2010). This situation offers people two choices and makes it difficult for them to decide what to do. The victim is usually forced to make a decision that may benefit other members of society, even if this will hurt the person. Therefore, an ethical dilemma makes the victim incur losses at a personal level to benefit other members of society by respecting moral principles and making decisions that uphold the virtues of a community.
The first scenario involves a student that picks a lost iPod on the floor of his classroom. The student discovers that the iPod is working and has some of his favourite music tracks. This student is in an ethical dilemma because he is confused and wonders whether to keep the iPod or leave it on the floor. He wants the gadget because it is a fashionable one. It is expensive and not every person can afford to buy it. He must realize that somebody may have dropped the gadget without knowing, and this will be a huge loss to the victim. In addition, he should know that the owner may have borrowed it from his friends or relatives, and this means that it must be returned as soon as possible.
Therefore, if he decides to keep it, he will make another person suffer from losing such an expensive gadget. Moreover, the victim may be forced to pay for it if he borrowed that iPod, and this may cause him financial losses. Lastly, people may think that he is a thief if he decides to keep it because nobody is supposed to be found with other people’s property (Kidder 2011). The most appropriate thing to do is to report the issue to his teacher or school prefects and let them decide what to do with it. Other students and the class teacher should be involved in this issue so that the right owner of the iPod can be identified. It is good to seek assistance from a teacher before making any decision on this issue.
The second scenario involves advising a student what he should do when he finds an iPod on the floor of his classroom. Peer pressure is very powerful, especially among the youths (Shapiro 2010). This student should be advised to report the matter to a teacher so that the owner of the iPod can be traced. In addition, he should be informed that it is wrong to keep something that does not belong to him because he may be perceived to be a thief.
On the other hand, the student can be advised to keep the iPod and use or sell it. However, the buyer of this gadget may be its owner, and this will complicate issues by causing more problems. Therefore, the best alternative is to report the issue and seek assistance from a teacher and let him take control of the situation.
The third dilemma involves a student sitting on the judicial board of the school. The student who kept the iPod has been accused of stealing even though this is not true. The student should advise the accused that he is a thief because he was caught in possession of a stolen item. He should have reported the matter to a teacher or other students for the owner of the iPod to be informed. In addition, he should be advised to avoid keeping things that do not belong to him (McGrath 2008).
The owner should be asked to prove his ownership of the iPod and if he fails the gadget should be confiscated. Lastly, the owner should be advised to take good care of his property, and the item should be confiscated and the owner punished if the school does not allow students to carry iPods to school. It is important to seek assistance from other board members to ensure the decisions made are not subjective.
References
Kidder, R. M. (2011). How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living. New York: Harper Collins.
McGrath, M. Z. (2008). Ethical Dilemmas in Education: Standing Up for Honesty and Integrity. Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield.
Shapiro, J. P. (2010). Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in Education: Applying Theoretical Perspectives to Complex Dilemmas. London: Routledge.