Running head: Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
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Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
Scott S. Critzer
Virginia Commonwealth University
Author Note
Correspondence regarding this paper should be addressed to Scott S. Critzer, Assistant Principal,
Randolph-Henry High School, 755 David Bruce Avenue, Charlotte Court House, Virginia
23923. E-mail: critzerss@vcu.edu
Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
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Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
Power and privilege can be very corrupting forces, and this can often be quite evident
when dealing with parents. Parents of power and privilege sometimes try to use those things to
insulate their children and gain special treatment for them. In doing so, they cause ethical
dissonance for those who are responsible for making decisions about how the child will or will
not be treated. In the play, “Million Dollar Baby,” our group explores the ethical implications of
having to deal with one such family of privilege.
“Million Dollar Baby,” and outline of which is represented in Table 1, is based around
the ethical dilemma that arises when the administration of Rainbow County Public Schools and
Promise Land High School is forced to choose between enforcing a school rule and possibly
losing a large amount of financial backing from a key member of the community. The situation
is created by the actions of Sally Cash and her father. Sally is rhe daughter of Farmer Cash, who
is the 7th largest employer in the county and just donated a larger sum of money to the high
school’s athletic fund, gets written-up for her 15th dress code violation of the year. She is sent to
the office, where Principal DoRight and Assistant Principal I.A. Gree are prepared to enforce the
school rule and suspend her. However, when DoRight calls Farmer Cash to come get his
daughter, he is not supportive, demands that she remain in school, and leaves. He then goes to
Superintendent Polly Tics and demands that Sally be let back in school or he will withdraw his
donation. At this point, the superintendent and school administration are left with an ethical
decision to make.
The character that I play is Sally Cash. Sally is a spoiled young woman who is not only
privileged but is well-aware of her privilege and status in the community and is willing to use
Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
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that to her advantage. She knows that she is in violation of the school’s dress code but believes
that she is “above the law” and that her personal interests and the influence of her family
outweigh the school’s rules. Unfortunately, while this notion would be normal enough in a
teenage testing her place in society, it is reinforced by her father’s support of her actions.
Sally Cash’s actions bring to light a common ethical dilemma. On her part, she is an
extension of the wealth, influence and attitude of her father. As such, she operates under two of
what Johnson (2012) calls “shadows.” The first is the “Shadow of Power.” Johnson would say
that she is using her coercive power, or power that is based on penalties and punishments, in this
case the withholding of her family’s support and, ultimately, their money, to manipulate the
system (p. 7). Sally is also working under the “Shadow of Influence” (p. 14). Her family’s
money and status give them power and make them financial leaders in the community, and this
often comes with certain privileges. In this case, the privilege that Sally is looking for is that of
being free from the constraints of the same rules that everyone else is subject to; and it is obvious
that she is willing to abuse her power and privilege to make that happen.
Sally’s actions put the school administration in a situation of having to decide among
several ethical perspectives. On the one hand, they can choose to look at the situation from a
Utilitarian perspective. This is a belief that, “…ethical choices should be based on their
consequences,” and should attempt, “…to do the greatest good for the greatest number of
people”(Johnson, 2012, p. 154). To allow Sally back in school would be to the detriment of the
rules but would allow the school to keep the Cash’s donation, which would benefit a great
number of students.
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While choosing the Utilitarian perspective would benefit more people directly, it may
cause more damage in the long-run. To overlook the same infraction that other students have
been punished for would cause the administration to violate the ethical perspective of Justice as
Fairness. As the developer of this perspective, John Rawls, suggested, ethical decisions should
be based not on cost analysis but on the principals of being just and fair. The primary principle of
this perspective is the “principle of equal liberty,” which suggests that, “Each person has an
equal right to the same basic liberties that are compatible with similar liberties to all”(pp. 161—
162). Not disciplining Sally the same way as other students based solely on her family’s
influence would cause the administration to, as Johnson (2012) puts it, “…cast shadows by
acting inconsistently”(p. 163). This inconsistency robs others of their liberties by removing the
opportunity for them to be treated fairly and justly in relation to Sally. As such, this action, were
it made public knowledge, would threaten to undermine the ethical legitimacy of both the
school’s rule system and the administration. This, in turn, could cause more harm to more people
than losing the Cash’s financial support would, thus making the choice to suspend Sally more
Utilitarian that not to.
In contrast to the Utilitarian perspective, the administration could choose to view the
situation from Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. According to Johnson (2012), this is the
belief that,” …people should do what is morally right no matter what the consequences”(p. 158).
From this ethical point of view, the administration would most likely choose to apply the school
rules uniformly to Sally and suspend her regardless of the financial consequences for the school.
While this would satisfy both the Categorical Imperative and the idea of Justice as Fairness, it
may not be the most Utilitarian approach.
Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
As the previous paragraphs suggest, the ethical dilemma that Sally’s actions create is not
easily solved. While it can be viewed from a variety of perspectives, they do not exist in a
vacuum. Each carries with it its own set of rewards and consequences, and, ultimately, both the
school division and the Cash’s will have to face both.
Table 1
“Million Dollar Baby”/Storyboard-Skit
Demographics:
Suburban
30,000 residents
Rainbow County, Virginia
1 high school, Promise Land High School, 900 students
10 major employers in the county
Players:
Superintendent Polly Tics – “Good Ole Gal”
Principal DoRight – 3rd year as principal, consistent and fair, believes in following the rules.
Assistant Principal I.A. Gree – “Yes Man”
Coach Winning – all time winning football coach in the history of the state
Farmer Cash – 7th largest employer in the county, multi-millionaire, 200 yrs. Family in the county
Sally Cash (daughter) – B/C student, captain of the cheerleading squad, volleyball¸ and softball
teams. Wants to be a fashion designer or professional cheerleader.
Scene 1
“Superintendent news conference”
Opens with superintendent having a news conference announcing the million dollar donation to the
athletic program by Farmer Cash to Rainbow County Public Schools. Coach Winning is there to accept
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Ethical Analysis of “Million Dollar Baby”
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the donation (big check) from Farmer Cash. Both gentlemen, Sally, and Mrs. Cash are sitting on the
stage with Mrs. Polly Tics. Reporters ask both men questions following the photo opportunity with the
check exchange. Both men answer questions.
Scene 2
(1 month later) “Dress Code”
30th week of school and Sally Cash has been sent to the office for the 15th time on dress code violations.
Principal DoRight following the policy on dress code and multiple offenses is going to suspend Sally and
have her father pick her up from school. Asst. Principal I. A. Gree agrees with Principal DoRight to
suspend Sally and they call Farmer Cash to pick her up. Farmer Cash shows up a little bit later. They tell
him that this is Sally’s 15th offense and she is going to be “sent home”. Farmer Cash then says to them
that he is not sure if Sally is college worthy and may need her good looks and attire to get married to a
rich man and move out of his house. He approves of her attire and she is staying. Kisses Sally on the
cheek, tells her that he will see her for supper, and leaves. Sally, Principal DoRight, and Asst. Principal
I.A. Gree are left in the office.
Scene 3
Meeting with the Super
Farmer Cash goes to the Superintendent and demands that Sally returns to class or he is pulling his
donation. The Superintendent said that she will investigate the matter and get back with him. The
Super calls Principal Do Right… What will transpire? Sally back to class or Construction halted?
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References
Johnson, C.E. (2012). Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow, fourth
edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Ltd.