Posted: September 18th, 2015
Piscataway v. Taxman
They had both taught business classes at Piscataway High School since 1980. In fact, they had been hired on the same day. But it was now April 1989, and the New Jersey township’s school board faced budget cuts. One of the teachers would lose her job, and each received a letter of warning that she might be laid off. One month later, Sharon Taxman learned that she was the unfortunate one. Debra Williams would continue teaching.
When making its decision, the board concluded that both teachers were equally qualified though Williams had a master’s degree and Taxman only a bachelor’s. And since they had been hired on the same day, seniority could not settle the issue. One difference did stand out, however, and it proved decisive. Williams is black and Taxman white. To preserve racial diversity on the faculty, they chose to keep Williams.
Here was an instance of a woman laid off solely because of her race, not an individual who missed out on gaining a job because of an affirmative-action program.
Explain how you determined that the school board acted ethically or unethically by:
1. reviewing the facts
2. defining the best ethical choice
3. identifying three critical values involved
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