Entangling Alliances Dilemma
Dave, a strong, athletic fourteen-year-old, is in his second year at Smithfield Junior High. Ever since he moved into the district last year, his physical abilities on the football field and his daring and sometimes rude personality have rubbed many other students the wrong way. He has steadily alienated himself from teammates, Brian and Bob, with his aggressive style both on and off the field. Other students who are not athletes, Bill and Ben, have also had problems with Dave in the cafeteria and the halls. Ben, Bill, Brian, and Bob, rarely seen together before eighth grade, have started hanging out together, using their growing dislike of Dave as their common bond. Dave’s macho character has attracted some followers who are pleased to share in Dave’s status as a “dude not to mess with.” Doug and Dwight are the two guys most often seen in the company of Dave. These two, who wouldn’t make any class member’s popularity list, revel in the attention they get from being part of “Dave’s group.”
As football season ends, Brian’s and Bob’s disdain of Dave is at an all-time high when Brian discovers Dave has a billy-club device in his football locker. Braced for future trouble, each begins packing brass knuckles. Meanwhile, Dwight has heard about the brass knuckles being carried by Brian and Bob, and he has informed Dave. Dave starts carrying a switchblade knife strapped to his ankle under his pant leg. One afternoon on the way home from school, Ben and Dwight (who have hated each other since a cafeteria incident in fifth grade) get into a shouting match during which Dwight lets it “slip” that Dave is armed with a knife, and that Ben better lay off. Shortly afterward, Ben lets Brian, Bob, and Bill know about the knife that Dave is concealing. Bill, a very loyal and faithful follower, secretly decides to begin toting a hidden handgun.
The very next day at recess, Dwight is hit by a rock on the playground by an unknown assailant. Dwight swears to the principal that it had to be Ben, but no proof is offered to implicate Ben. Dave tells Dwight later that afternoon not to worry, everything is going to be set right. Dave tells Dwight to follow him after school.
Questions To Consider 1-6
Assign #2
Alliances
Entangling Alliances Dilemma
Dave, a strong, athletic fourteen-year-old, is in his second year at Smithfield Junior High. Ever since he moved into the district last year, his physical abilities on the football field and his daring and sometimes rude personality have rubbed many other students the wrong way. He has steadily alienated himself from teammates, Brian and Bob, with his aggressive style both on and off the field. Other students who are not athletes, Bill and Ben, have also had problems with Dave in the cafeteria and the halls. Ben, Bill, Brian, and Bob, rarely seen together before eighth grade, have started hanging out together, using their growing dislike of Dave as their common bond. Dave’s macho character has attracted some followers who are pleased to share in Dave’s status as a “dude not to mess with.” Doug and Dwight are the two guys most often seen in the company of Dave. These two, who wouldn’t make any class member’s popularity list, revel in the attention they get from being part of “Dave’s group.”
As football season ends, Brian’s and Bob’s disdain of Dave is at an all-time high when Brian discovers Dave has a billy-club device in his football locker. Braced for future trouble, each begins packing brass knuckles. Meanwhile, Dwight has heard about the brass knuckles being carried by Brian and Bob, and he has informed Dave. Dave starts carrying a switchblade knife strapped to his ankle under his pant leg. One afternoon on the way home from school, Ben and Dwight (who have hated each other since a cafeteria incident in fifth grade) get into a shouting match during which Dwight lets it “slip” that Dave is armed with a knife, and that Ben better lay off. Shortly afterward, Ben lets Brian, Bob, and Bill know about the knife that Dave is concealing. Bill, a very loyal and faithful follower, secretly decides to begin toting a hidden handgun.
The very next day at recess, Dwight is hit by a rock on the playground by an unknown assailant. Dwight swears to the principal that it had to be Ben, but no proof is offered to implicate Ben. Dave tells Dwight later that afternoon not to worry, everything is going to be set right. Dave tells Dwight to follow him after school.
Questions to Consider