Susans Dilemma Discussion

Option 2: Susan’s Dilemma

After reading the introduction this week, think about Susan’s situation and respond to the following-ABOUT 100 CHARACTERS

• Describe how Susan’s situation relates to what you learned this week about critical thinking.
• What stage of thought do you think Susan is in? From what you learned about critical thinking, what advice could you offer Susan?
• Responses to Other LearnersRespond to at least two other learner’s posts. Here are some questions to get you started in your responses: How are this learner’s thoughts the same as yours?How are this learner’s thoughts different from yours?What questions do you have that this learner could answer?What words of advice could you offer this learner?

Susan dilema. Thinking About Question at Issue

A week later, Susan still hasn’t found regular work, but she continues to apply. She has picked up a couple of shifts here and there, but not enough to pay the bills. Her mother agrees to pay her rent, but demands that Susan do chores in return. Being without a job takes more time than having a job. Her phone rings, interrupting her job search at the staffing agency.“Ms. Maxwell, this is Lieutenant Ed Kowalski of the Riverbend City Police. We’ve arrested your son, Joe, for threatening the clerk at Wholesale Shoes.”Susan texts her mother with the news. Then she explains the situation to her new friends. Her mother texts back that she needs to go bail Joe out immediately. “Do you have a way to get money for bail?” Christy asks.“Will you be safe with Joe if you bail him out tonight?” Mike asks.“Do you have a lawyer to get advice from?” Juan asks.”I think the question is what’s right for Joe,” Susan says. “Bail him out but tell him he needs to get a job and repay you,” Juan says.

“Or you could ask your mom to put up the bail; she’s the one who wants him out,” Christy says.

Susan thinks about it. She doesn’t have the money to bail Joe out, and she doesn’t have anything to put up as collateral for a loan—even the car is in her mother’s name. Although the others seem to think she should bail out her son, Susan decides to leave him in jail.

Looking Ahead

This week, we begin our look at critical thinking. As you complete your work, think of Susan’s experience. What stage of thought do you think she is in? From what you learn about critical thinking, what advice could you offer Susan?I must begin by stating how truly stressful this situation must be for Susan.

RESPONDE TO THIS COMMENT WITH ABOUT 50 CHARACTERES——After reading over this weeks developments, I’d have to say Susan is a Challenged Thinker. She seems to struggle with her thought processing and makes decisions without giving them much thought. Susan has so much going on in her life that she really hasn’t had time to process what has just happened. I do believe maybe for her this might be what is best for Joe, but is that really the case? Susan has many outside influences in her ear about what they believe is best for her life, that can easily cloud her thinking even more.

I’d tell Susan to explore all her options before making any decisions that might not be what is best for her and Joe. Joe is obviously in need of some help and she cannot do this alone. Now one important factor we are forgetting here is Joe’s age. I do believe that is a huge game changer and will impact the amount of support she will find.

RESPONDE TO THIS LEARNER COMMENT WIH ABOUT 50 CHARACTERES—-This week Susan was hit with something big, her son being arrested. That left her with a huge decision to make, and I believe she made the right call. I think Susan is in the beginning stage of thinking. For the past couple weeks, people have been throwing ideas at Susan about how to deal with Joe. It doesn’t seem as if she made any real effort to look into those resources or apply any information, or make any attempt at fixing her issues with her son. Now that he has been arrested, I think she is starting to understand the severity of it all. She realizes she does not have the money to bail him out, and while she could ask her mother to, I feel she doesn’t want to “owe” her mother anything else. Her car is in her moms name, her mom is paying her rent; I believe Susan is realizing this is an issue she needs to deal with all on her own. I believe Susan leaving Joe in jail for a bit was a smart choice. This will allow time for Susan to process everything, and finally look into resources to help Joe when he is released. I do agree that if she does eventually bail him out, that he should have to pay her back. Him staying in jail allows Susan to figure out a plan, and actively start thinking about what is best not only for Joe, but her as well.