Name ______________________

The Truth Hurts

Directions: Individually decide what you must do to rectify the situation below. Put serious thought into why and how you would do this. Next, you will be placed in groups. Each group must agree to the best possible solution to the problem. Each member of the group must contribute their opinions and ideas.

Whoops! Rumors are flying around the school about you, the kid at school. Everything from putting a fellow student in the hospital after a fight to paying teachers off to get good grades. You come across as very unfriendly and hard to get to know which does not help your reputation. One day you approach a classmate who you want to get to know and ask to join their study group. This is when you find out what everyone has been saying about you and how all the rumors are thought to be true. These rumors are preventing you from making any friends at the new school and they must be set straight. The biggest dilemma that you must solve now is that in order to clear your name you will have to explain what some of the rumors are based on. The truth is going to implicate other people that you are very close to. One of the teachers is your aunt. She pulled strings to let you in to the school, but she will get in trouble if the administration finds out. Also, your brother is the one who was involved in the fight that ended with serious injury. He is constantly in trouble at home and at school. This fight would have brought on serious disciplinary actions. Now What? The problem must be solved! You must decide what the best solution would be clear your name and reputation around the school. There are many factors and details that must be considered while making this decision.

--Telling the truth about your aunt will get her in trouble with the administration.

--Your brother will be in lots of trouble if you tell everyone it was him.

--You desperately want to fit in at the new school with lots of friends.

--How will your classmates believe you? What if they don't?

--Who will you tell the truth to? Who can you trust?

--What is the best way to communicate the truth?

The Solution: Keeping the above factors in mind, present your solution to the problem. Be prepared to give reasons to defend your solution.