This edition of Teacher Spotlight shines on Canterbury School’s Joyce Lazier.
If a bag existed that could function as a portable uterus, would this be a good thing? This is a question I’d never considered even in my ethics class, but I got to wrap my brain around this fascinating topic thanks to Ellen Johnson of Wilmington Friends.
We teamed up last semester to offer the first co-taught MSON class: Playing God? The ethics of Biomedical Advancement. It was a rich and fulfilling experience in many ways. First, I had the expertise of a biologist right there in class with me to answer important questions about the scientific facts of the issues. Second, I was able to see her teaching techniques and styles, which were quite different from mine but offered a nice counterbalance. Third, students were able to witness how two very distinct disciplines, attacked the same topic.
We began the class with an overview and discussion of three ethical theories, Utilitarianism, Virtue Ethics, and Deontology. We then applied those theories to biomedical issues such as uterine transplants, whether we ought to “cure” disabilities, gene editing, and disease research. I learned a lot from Ellen and our students and am excited to continue the class with my new friend and colleague.