John Locke on Should Jenna vote to fix the playground or build the snack bar?

By John LockeCommunity & Civic Responsibility2 min readGrade 8.8
Classroom
Intermediate

Overview

In the town of Willowbrook, the student council is like a small government. They've been elected to make decisions for the whole school.

The Choice

Should Jenna vote to fix the playground or build the snack bar?

Quick Stats

Grade Band
Grades 6-8
Reading Level
Level 8.753122382503491
Word Count
307 words
Published
Mar 23, 2026

The Dilemma

In the town of Willowbrook, the student council is like a small government. They've been elected to make decisions for the whole school. Recently, the council learned that the playground needs repairs and only has enough funds to either fix the equipment or build a new snack bar that students have been requesting. Jenna, the council president, hears her friend Mark say, "A playground is for everyone to enjoy, but a snack bar would be so cool!" Jenna knows that fixing the playground is safer, but the snack bar is popular with students.

Values in Tension

This dilemma explores the tension between two important values:

Community
vs
Self-Interest

Consider how these values might conflict or complement each other in this situation.

Your Options

A

Vote to repair the playground equipment.

B

Vote to build a new snack bar.

Questions for Reflection

Take a moment to consider these questions. There are no "right" answers – the goal is to explore different perspectives and develop your own reasoning.

  1. 1

    Why might fixing the playground be important?

  2. 2

    What are the benefits of having a snack bar?

  3. 3

    How do you decide between safety and fun?

  4. 4

    What would be fair for all students?

  5. 5

    How does this decision affect the school community?

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Philosophical Perspective

Insights from John Locke

Take a moment to form your own thoughts first, then click to explore philosophical perspectives.

Related Topics

community welfare
individual desires
Portrait of John Locke, the English Enlightenment philosopher

John Locke1632-1704

John Locke (1632-1704) was a highly influential English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most important Enlightenment thinkers. Known as the 'Father of Liberalism' and founder of British empiricism, he profoundly impacted Western pol…

Empiricism
Liberalism
Development of Empiricism (Tabula Rasa)
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