Lying

Presentation: Is lying always wrong? Are some lies more excusable than others? Could there be good lies? See the attachment for quick resources.

Comments: I've used this activity as a follow-up or preparation to a story from Robert Fisher's 'Stories for thinking',called 'The Mirror of Truth. But it could be used as a stand-alone concept stretcher and a stimulus in itself. See the concept-stretcher key document for guidance on ways to present this concept-stretcher. This is how I do it:

• Ask the class for a working definition of lying/trickery and display this.
• Split the class into small groups or pairs, depending on the size of the class.
• Issue the scenarios to your groups -- a group can have all or just a few of the scenarios.
• Set up a continuum line, one end being something like 'BAD LIES' and the other 'GOOD LIES' -- or whatever wording you consider appropriate, the point being that you are asking the group to make consider whether there are justifiable distinctions to be made between different types of lie.
• Ask them to discuss the scenarios and lay them along the continuum line
• Compare the results and discuss these. In particular, highlight any strong differences in opinion.
• Revisit the definitions of lying and see if anyone wants to revise them in the light of the discussions
• Alternatively, you might want to ask your groups to consider how each scenario stands up against the different definitions of lying.
• Either way, you might want to explore possible differences in terms of motive and consequence.
• Again, see if anyone wishes to revise their definitions.

The Fisher story gives one example of lying but opinion is often divided on whether it was a 'good' lie (to get the king to exercise) or whether it was a 'nasty trick'. Younger children don't always consider the power relationship and the possibility that the servant might not feel safe to tell the king the truth about his appearance.

You can use the scenarios provided below to explore these kinds of questions. As lying is a topic that comes up frequently, you could have this plan ready to accompany other stimuli.

ITEMS (Suggested scenarios around lying)

1 THE POWERFUL QUEEN
A powerful queen asks you: 'Who is the fairest of them all.'
If you tell her the truth -- that she is really ugly -- she might chop off your head.
You tell her she is the fairest in the land.

2 THE BROKEN TOY
You borrow your friend's toy without asking. When you break it by accident, you put it back without saying anything.

3 THE CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA
Your friend asks you what is the capital of Australia.
You tell him/her that Sydney is the capital of Australia (genuinely believing this is true.) Later on you discover that you were wrong and that Canberra is the capital of Australia.

4 OWNING UP TO SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T DO
Someone in the class does something naughty. The teacher says if the person doesn't own up, the whole class will be kept in. The person who did it doesn't say anything. You own up to it so that you can all go outside.

5 GRANDMA'S PRESENT
Your favourite grandma gives you a horrible present. You don't want to hurt her feelings.
You tell your grandma you really love the present.

6 THE STOLEN CAKE
At home, you eat some cake which was being kept for tea. Your mam asks if you took it.
You say your brother ate the cake.

7 PRACTICAL JOKE
As a joke, you hide some homework belonging to your classmate. Everyone in the class laughs while your classmate spends ages looking for it.
When the classmate asks where the homework is, you say you don't know.

8 THE BULLY
You see two little children running away, then hiding in the bushes. Someone you know is a bully comes along and asks if you have seen any little children (he says they are his brothers but you know they are not).
You tell the bully you haven't seen anyone.

9 HIDDEN VEGETABLES
Your mam knows you don't like vegetables but wants you to eat them because vegetables are good for you. She hides some carrots and turnip in the mashed potato.
When she serves the meal, she gives you an extra helping because she says, 'I know you love potato.'

10 'HE'S NOT IN'
A neighbour who your parents don't like very much comes to the door and asks to see your dad. Your dad tells you to tell the neighbour he's not at home.
You tell them your dad isn't in.

© Michelle Whitworth