In 1971, after the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision that permitted busing to achieve racial integration, schools were required to become integrated immediately.* In Alexandria, Virginia, the previously all-white high school was closed, and students were absorbed into the previously all-black school. Bob Yardley, who had been the winning, successful head football coach of the all-white school, expected to be named head football coach of the integrated school. However, Horace Bond, a young African American coach new to the community, was offered the position. At first reluctant to accept the offer, Bond was encouraged by town leaders; he eventually accepted. Bond considered for a long time what he might do to bring his black and white players together—particularly when neither set of students wanted to be brought together! He offered an assistant coaching position to Bob Yardley.
If you were Bob Yardley, what would you do? You think you should have had the head coaching spot, and it’s not fair that you didn’t get the offer. But you also think that achieving racial integration is a positive step, and you want to help the school achieve it. You have several choices.
1. You could accept, refuse, accept and try to sabotage Coach Bond’s efforts, and so forth. List at least five options in this situation.
2. Assume you decided to accept Coach Bond’s offer. What would be your communication behavior toward him? Respectful? Disdainful? How would you show your feelings through your communication behavior?
3. You truly believe the top spot should have been yours, but assume that you’ve decided you want to make a positive contribution here. What would you do? How would you behave toward Bond and the players?
4. How would you describe the ethical dilemma you face and on what basis would you make your ethical decision?