What is your definition of respect and kindness?

      In my argument class we have been talking about the constitution, what it is to amend. We listened to lectures, We also have talked about different arguments and what they mean. We looked at sound argument and unsound argument. An argument is sound if it is valid and the premises are true. An argument is unsound when the argument is valid but the premises aren't true. We went over logical fallacies like Straw Man, Ad Hominem, Black and White, Appeal to Authority, and No True Scotsman. For this action project we looked at the social contract. We had find a rule to amend whether we disliked it or simply wanted to change something about it. I decided to contradict the practice kindness and respect rule and to delete it from the social contract. 

                                    Greater Good in Education, 2022

Respect and kindness 

The rule in place is to practice kindness and respect is to express care for one another. In this context, kindness and respect are both personal virtues; they are not earned, but given. What this rule is saying is that students and staff should come in with kindness in mind.

Syllogism for rule in place: 

   P1:  kindness is beneficial to a learning environment 

    P2: Kindness is not earned, but given

    P3: kindness is universally understood 

    C: Therefore, everyone should practice kindness

Why should we amend this?

You can’t expect everyone to come in and be kind, it's unrealistic. Everyone has a different definition of kindness. You might think you are kind but to someone else that has been raised differently with different standards might not think of kindness the same way.

Kindness can not be what it is if done due to a rule. If someone holds the door for you because the social contract says too, is it still kindness? Why should you feel obligated to show kindness just because it was made a rule. If the supply of something is infinite then the value of it is very low.

Therefore I think this rule should be deleted all together. Life at school wouldn't change. Everyone is used to showing kindness it's more of a habit now unless someone gives you a reason not to be kind. 

Syllogism for new rule:

 P1: Expecting everyone to come in and show kindness is unrealistic 

P2: Everyone has a different view on kindness

P3: Kindness can not be what it is if you are doing it because you are told to

C: therefore, all reference to kindness should be deleted 

A U.S. Constitutional amendment that my new amendment relates to the most:

My new amendment relates to the 18th amendment because the 18th amendment talks about prohibition. Like my new amendment the 18th amendment banned alcohol but instead of banning alcohol I want to ban the mentioning of kindness in the social contract.  

Quote supporting amendment: 

“respect and kindness freely given mean nothing, it's only when we withhold them from certain people that they start to mean anything”- JE