The Benevolent The Benevolent Dictator:Dictator:

A discussion of teaching A discussion of teaching ethics using, “The Emperor’s ethics using, “The Emperor’s

Club.”Club.”

Videotherapy LessonGeorgia CostalasSPED 620_51_051Prof Dole

Emperor’s ClubDirector: Michael HoffmanYear: 2002Starring: Kevin KlineBased on Story:Ethan Canin's

The PalaceThiefScreenplay: Neil Tolkin

The Emperor’s Club PlotThe Emperor’s Club Plot

A Classics teacher successful in molding the A Classics teacher successful in molding the characters of students of a boarding school, characters of students of a boarding school, faces the challenge of a youngster who faces the challenge of a youngster who questions and defies authority. There are questions and defies authority. There are students who make wrong decisions, but students who make wrong decisions, but ultimately develop characters of integrity. ultimately develop characters of integrity. However, the teacher goes as far as to tweak However, the teacher goes as far as to tweak situations to create a learning environment situations to create a learning environment for the defiant youngster, who grows into a for the defiant youngster, who grows into a corrupt adult who can feel remorse for his corrupt adult who can feel remorse for his lack of values, but cannot and does not want lack of values, but cannot and does not want to change. to change.

Justification and Overview Justification and Overview ► The problem of semester exams having been stolen The problem of semester exams having been stolen

off the school’s computer system have caused much off the school’s computer system have caused much reflection and consternation. The faculty has said it is reflection and consternation. The faculty has said it is disillusioned, questions what we do, . . disillusioned, questions what we do, . .

► Teaching ethics is an important topic in any school. Teaching ethics is an important topic in any school. However with the several challenges we have been However with the several challenges we have been faced with it is an an essential topic for the High faced with it is an an essential topic for the High School Faculty to look at as we questions so much of School Faculty to look at as we questions so much of what we do this time. what we do this time.

► The Emperor’s Club would be a tertulia, a 2 ½ hour The Emperor’s Club would be a tertulia, a 2 ½ hour informal viewing and discussion that has the benefits informal viewing and discussion that has the benefits of both a social event and professional development. of both a social event and professional development.

► Though this event would be a one time discussion, the Though this event would be a one time discussion, the topic would continue—as it has—in the lunchroom and topic would continue—as it has—in the lunchroom and in other informal and formal spaces during the year.in other informal and formal spaces during the year.

ObjectivesObjectives

Teachers will Teachers will ► Reflect on the role of the teacher in the

classroom, especially in the area of character development..

► Consider how the adults of the community are limited in their capacity to save and change and “mold” the youngsters in their care.

► Consider to what extent the adults of the Consider to what extent the adults of the community are to blame for misbehavior. community are to blame for misbehavior.

► Identify with the teacher who is trying to do the Identify with the teacher who is trying to do the right thing by this student, but does not in the right thing by this student, but does not in the end have the impact on the one child he tries to end have the impact on the one child he tries to “save.”“save.”

ThemesThemes

►Teacher Role—to mold or to teachTeacher Role—to mold or to teach►Teacher as GodTeacher as God►Striving for ExcellenceStriving for Excellence►Human NatureHuman Nature►Adolescence and Challenging Adolescence and Challenging

AuthorityAuthority► IntegrityIntegrity

MotivationMotivation

►Discuss December exam stealing—why Discuss December exam stealing—why did it happen?did it happen?

►Do you feel particularly bad about a Do you feel particularly bad about a particular student who was involved? particular student who was involved? Why does this student especially catch Why does this student especially catch your attention?your attention?

►What values do we try to teach at CB What values do we try to teach at CB which were violated in the stealing of which were violated in the stealing of the exams?the exams?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

► Did you ever try to help a student by trying to Did you ever try to help a student by trying to distort a situation? Did it work, that is, was the distort a situation? Did it work, that is, was the student helped? Long term?student helped? Long term?

► Is it a teacher’s job to teach or to form?Is it a teacher’s job to teach or to form?► Hundert is told by the headmaster to ignore Hundert is told by the headmaster to ignore

Sedgewick’s cheating. Do you think the request was Sedgewick’s cheating. Do you think the request was justified? Why or why not?justified? Why or why not?

► Have you felt like you have been in a similar Have you felt like you have been in a similar situation? What did you do? How did you feel? situation? What did you do? How did you feel? Sedgewick’s errors seem to characterize him Sedgewick’s errors seem to characterize him completely. What are Hundert’s flaws in character? completely. What are Hundert’s flaws in character? Do they define him? Is he and all of them equally Do they define him? Is he and all of them equally wrong and bad?wrong and bad?

► Which is the real world? Hundert’s or Sedgewick’s?Which is the real world? Hundert’s or Sedgewick’s?

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

► In a K-12 school, to what extent are we responsible In a K-12 school, to what extent are we responsible for how our students turn out?for how our students turn out?

► What are the values Hundert is trying to teach? What are the values Hundert is trying to teach? Does he manage?Does he manage?

► Does a teacher have a right, a responsibility, or Does a teacher have a right, a responsibility, or should he/she teach values?should he/she teach values?

► Does Sedgewick act the way he does because of his Does Sedgewick act the way he does because of his values, or does he become who he does because of values, or does he become who he does because of the way he acted?the way he acted?

► What role does the teaching of the classics have at What role does the teaching of the classics have at Hundert’s school? How would the teaching of Hundert’s school? How would the teaching of classics affect, if at all, Colegio Bolivar?classics affect, if at all, Colegio Bolivar?

Quotations DiscussionsQuotations Discussions► Quotation 1:Quotation 1:William William HundertHundert: Great ambition and : Great ambition and

conquest without contribution is without significance. conquest without contribution is without significance. What will your contribution be? How will history What will your contribution be? How will history remember you? remember you?

► What role does this quote play in the movie?What role does this quote play in the movie?

► Quotation 2:Quotation 2:Older Deepak MehtaOlder Deepak Mehta: A great teacher has : A great teacher has little external history to record. His life goes over into little external history to record. His life goes over into other lives. These men are pillars in the intimate other lives. These men are pillars in the intimate structure of our schools. They are more essential than structure of our schools. They are more essential than its stones or beams, and they will continue to be a its stones or beams, and they will continue to be a kindling force and a revealing power in our lives. kindling force and a revealing power in our lives.

► Really? Do you agree with this quotation? Do teachers Really? Do you agree with this quotation? Do teachers have such an essential role, or are the forming forces have such an essential role, or are the forming forces other than the teachers?other than the teachers?

Quotations DiscussionsQuotations Discussions

► Quotation 3: Quotation 3: William William HundertHundert: Sir, it's my job : Sir, it's my job to mold your son's character, and I think if - to mold your son's character, and I think if - Senator BellSenator Bell: Mold him? Jesus God in heaven, : Mold him? Jesus God in heaven, son. You're not gonna mold my boy. Your job son. You're not gonna mold my boy. Your job is to teach my son. You teach him his times is to teach my son. You teach him his times tables. Teach him why the world is round. tables. Teach him why the world is round. Teach him who killed who and when and Teach him who killed who and when and where. That is your job. You, sir, will not mold where. That is your job. You, sir, will not mold by son. I will mold him. by son. I will mold him.

► Do you agree with Hundert or Bell?Do you agree with Hundert or Bell?

Quotation discussionsQuotation discussions

► Quotation 4: Quotation 4: William William HundertHundert: Follow the : Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great men before you have walked. men before you have walked.

► Is it possible through the teaching of the Is it possible through the teaching of the classical thought to really encourage classical thought to really encourage students to walk where “the great men” students to walk where “the great men” have walked?have walked?

► Quotation 5: William HundertQuotation 5: William Hundert It is not It is not living that is important, but living rightly.living that is important, but living rightly.

► Great words. How do we impart this lesson Great words. How do we impart this lesson to students?to students?

Follow Up ActivitiesFollow Up Activities

►Teachers plan to use the movie in their Teachers plan to use the movie in their classrooms.classrooms.

►Teachers discuss how we can increase Teachers discuss how we can increase ethics education at Colegio Bolivar.ethics education at Colegio Bolivar.

►Revising of the 9Revising of the 9thth grade ethics grade ethics program.program.

►Continued work on the buddies Continued work on the buddies program.program.

BibliographyBibliography

► The Emperor’s Club. The Emperor’s Club. Retrieved March 16, 2005, Retrieved March 16, 2005, http://www.theemperorsclub.com/http://www.theemperorsclub.com/

► The Emperor’s Club, retrieved March 16, 2005. The Emperor’s Club, retrieved March 16, 2005. http://www.haro-http://www.haro- online.com/movies/emperors_club.htmlonline.com/movies/emperors_club.html

► Ethics and Educational Leadership (3) (F,S,S)Ethics and Educational Leadership (3) (F,S,S) retrieved retrieved March March 16, 2005. 16, 2005. http://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~maxcy/7001_syl.htmhttp://asterix.ednet.lsu.edu/~maxcy/7001_syl.htm

► Hoffman, Michael, dir. Hoffman, Michael, dir. The Emperor’s ClubThe Emperor’s Club. With Kevin Kline. . With Kevin Kline. Universal Pictures, 2002. Universal Pictures, 2002. ► Intenet Movie Database.Intenet Movie Database. Retrieved March 16,2005, Retrieved March 16,2005,

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283530/quoteshttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283530/quotes► Philosophical Films, “The Emperors Club,” retrieved March 16, Philosophical Films, “The Emperors Club,” retrieved March 16,

2005. 2005. http://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/emperors.htmhttp://www.philfilms.utm.edu/1/emperors.htm► Youthtools.com, retrieved March 16, 2005, Youthtools.com, retrieved March 16, 2005,

http://youthtools.ibelieve.com/content.asp?CIDhttp://youthtools.ibelieve.com/content.asp?CID =16706 . =16706 .