Was the uncle unjust? Is not the uncle free to do whatever he wanted with his own money?

Of the three boys, who appreciated the generosity of the uncle most?

Did any of the boys deserve the uncle's generosity?

Does inequality always breed injustice?

Is inequality itself unjust?

If you are blessed with health, youth, and strength, and you encounter an old weak blind man who is trying to cross a busy road, would you consider it your duty to use your blessings of health to help the man cross?

Would the old man justly deserve your time and generosity? Would this question be relevant to your decision to help the old man?

Is life unjust for giving you greater health and strength than the old man?

Some children are born into wealthy families, some into poverty, some are born disabled in one way or another, others are born perfectly healthy. Due to circumstances beyond their control people experience varying degrees of suffering. Is life unjust?

Would rich and powerful countries and individuals be unjust if they refuse to help others less endowed? Does the poor and desperate deserve help? Are these questions relevant?

Is the Question "does the rich owe them anything" irrelevant?

Does life owe us anything?

Do we owe our 'creator' anything?

How much blame do people deserve for the unequal distribution of wealth in the world?

It was always obvious that Miss Pope, the teacher, had her favourite pupil. No one knew exactly why Miss Pope seemed to be so taken in by Petra. Some thought that it was because the teacher knew Petra's family from a long time ago. It was even speculated that Petra looked a lot like Miss Pope's daughter who died by accident three years before, and that there was some subconscious connection experienced by the teacher to the student. But whatever the reason, the exclusive concessions which Petra enjoyed in class was a point of contention and discontent among the other students.

Perhaps it should have been equally obvious that there was another student who experienced quite different treatment from the others, but for some reason it was not. Only this other student, Sidney, saw that the teacher did not have two ways of dealing with her students, but three, ─one for Petra, one for herself, and one for the rest of the class. Sidney thought that she always had to be extra careful when dealing with Miss Pope. The teacher was particularly exacting with her and particularly harsh if she should make just the slightest mistake.

Sidney felt that she was being picked upon unfairly and wished that Miss Pope would treat her like the rest of her classmates. The other pupils felt that there was something unjust about the way Petra was given special treatment above the others in class and wanted her to be treated like them. Petra herself could not understand what all the discontent was about. As far as she was concerned, Miss Pope was the best teacher in the school.

A few of the students decided to make a formal complaint to the principal who subsequently called the teacher to answer their charges. Miss Pope was surprised to discover the level of discontent within her class. "If all of my students were equally capable of the work, and had the same approach to the work I give, then perhaps I would treat them all the same. But how would it be fair, how would it be just to treat all students the same when their needs are so different? Petra is such a timid child, in need of self-assurance. I just have to take a special interest in her in a particular way."

“It may come as a surprise to my class, but I take no less interest in Sidney. She is the girl with most potential. She is driven by challenge. She may think that I am strict with her but if I were not, then I as a teacher would be unfair to her. I love all my students equally, but no two people's needs are exactly equal, so that is why I cannot treat them equally. But if my class still has a problem with my method let me ask this question: If fairness means treating everyone equally then should it make a difference if I treated everyone as I treat Petra or as I treat Sidney?"

Was the teacher acting unjustly?

What is Miss Pope's main aim in operating as she does in class?

Are her reasons for her methods noble?

Do you treat all of your friends equally?

Are you treated exactly the same as your brothers or sisters?

When is equality necessary for justice to flourish?

Two workers received their salaries one day. The first worker stole the pay package of the second.

If you had to choose to be either the first worker or the second, which would you choose?

Would you rather be the victim of injustice or the perpetrator of injustice?

If you would rather be the victim, then does that mean that in some way the perpetrator of injustice is in a sadder state than his victim?

If you commit an act of injustice, are you your first victim?

When people work to promote justice in any way, are they not working to help both the just victim and the unjust perpetrator?

How important is it to stand up against injustice?

Does everybody have an obligation to fight for justice?

Sheldon's mother was hardly ever around, and so it was left up to his grandmother to look after him. It was not that his mother did not have the time or money to see about her son, but she simply did not care enough. Emotionally, Sheldon coped with the situation by simply ignoring his mother as much as he could. It was easy. He learnt a long time ago not to expect much from his mother and so made himself immune to disappointment from her. Even her mother resigned herself to being Sheldon's sole provider and caregiver and so went out each day in her old age to hire herself out as a domestic worker in order to supply whatever was necessary at home.

No one knew, no one cared enough to see that in her love, this caregiver was herself being neglected more and more. The money was hardly ever enough, and she would go for weeks without her arthritic medicine in order to look after the needs of her daughter and grandson. Without complaint and in grievous agony she continued to give her life, day by day for them. Paradoxically, in her tragic situation she was happy and thankful to be able to care for her grandchild, for she loved him very much. She never measured what she did or what she gave. She never kept an account of her sacrifice. Although others thought that she was being treated unfairly by Sheldon's mother, the question of justice never crossed her mind. In her heart, the matters of love very much overshadowed those of justice.

Why does the grandmother not realise that she is being treated unjustly?

If the grandmother does not feel exploited in her situation, is she being treated unjustly?

Is it a just thing to take advantage of the generosity of another?

Must love be blind to the injustices perpetrated by the loved one?

Should the grandmother refuse to support her daughter and grandson?

Should she insist that her daughter take up her just responsibilities as mother to Sheldon?

In matters of justice there is always a dimension of measurement. One always asks the questions:

"What is deserved?" And "How much is deserved?" Love, however, gives without measure or reason. Which is greater, love or justice?

Is love simply a higher form of justice? Are they compatible, or are they incompatible?

What is a just response to an act of love? Should one give love in return?

When, if ever, could love be a good response to injustice? Give examples.

Do you sometimes (like the grandmother) respond to injustice with love?

Do you know of any instances where a boy is being unjustly exploited by his girlfriend, or the other way around, and responds only with patience and love (like the grandmother)? In situations like these do people even realise or care that they are being unjustly exploited?

Can the patience of a loved one sometimes help the perpetrator of injustice change his or her ways?

Can the inaction of the abused person cause the abuser to continue in his or her ways?

Would standing against injustice with love but firmness be the better way to bring about positive change?

Activity: Write and perform a skit on "an evening in Sheldon's home." Or write and perform a skit on a boy whose girlfriend uses his love for her to get anything she wants out of him.