Courage Opinionnaire

Courage Opinionnaire

Read the scenarios. Decide whether you think they are examples of courage or not and explain why.

Poll

Chicken In the small town of Clinton, teenage boys liked to play ‘chicken’ with their cars. Two boys raced their cars directly at each other. The first boy to swerve to avoid the crash lost. Were the boys courageous when they played ‘chicken’?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Individuality. A girl named Josie wore unique outfits and hairstyles that most other kids at her school didn't wear, but she liked them even if she got made fun of by other kids. Was Josie courageous?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Bullies. Thirteen-year-old James had been beaten many times by a group of boys in his neighborhood. He generally tried to avoid them. One day, they surrounded him on the street. He was so frightened he could not think clearly. In a panic, hardly knowing what he was doing, he ran as hard as he could at the boy nearest him, knocking him to the ground. Was James’ attack courageous?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Lunchtime. A new student, Freya, was walking with her lunch tray to find a table. She was new and didn't know anyone. Freya saw a table of girls. She introduced herself and asked if she could sit by them. They said yes. Were Freya's actions courageous?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Vandalism Antonio was using the restroom when he saw two kids writing on the walls with markers. Antonio quietly returned to his classroom without telling anyone. He wouldn’t tell; the kids were usually mean to others. Was Antonio's decision not to tell on the bathroom vandalizers courageous?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Military Men. Joseph Wadsworth came from a family of military men. Both his father and grandfather had been soldiers. Joseph had no interest in being in the military, but he was afraid that his family would reject him if he did not join the military. He joined the service and volunteered to fight in Afghanistan. Was Joseph courageous when he joining the service and volunteered to fight?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure

Poll

Oceanfront. On the oceanfront, Mr. Jones heard a swimmer shouting for help. He saw signs indicating that this part of the beach was extremely dangerous because of undertows. A lifeguard asked Jones to help him move a boat into the water to be used to help rescue the drowning man. Instead, Jones said, ‘Don’t be silly!’ He ran into the water to swim out to the drowning person. Was Jones’ effort to save the swimmer courageous?

• Yes - courage

• No -- not courage

• not sure