Mattel Says Sorry!!

The USA Today is running an article entitled, "Mattel Apologizes to China for Toy Recalls." The article begins, "Mattel, the world's largest toymaker, apologized on Friday for damaging China's reputation after recent massive recalls of its Chinese-made toys, admitting it targeted some goods that were actually up to scratch." Thomas Debrowski, Mattel's Executive Vice President for World Wide Operations said, "...It's important for everyone to understand that the vast majority of those products that we recalled were the result of a design flaw in Mattel's design, not through a manufacturing flaw in Chinese manufacturers."

Read the Article!!

Discussion Starters for Younger Children

• What do your students think it means to play safely? Do they think it's important to play safely? Why/why not?
  
• Consider asking students to make a list of three rules that all students should follow on the playground. The class might do this collaboratively.
  
• Ask your students what the word "poison" means. Ask students to give some examples of things they should never touch because they could get sick if they use it in the wrong way.
  
• Students could make signs warning people not to touch poison items. These signs might be placed in appropriate places in school and at home.
  
• Do your students think that it is bad to lie? Why/why not? What does it mean to trust somebody? In what ways might lying destroy trust?
  
• Consider asking students to write rhymes emphasizing the importance of telling the truth. Students might work on these rhymes in small groups.
  
• Ask your students to think of one thing that they would like to do to make themselves better people. Why would this one thing make them better people?
  
• Students could write their one way to become a better person down on a piece of paper. Alternatively, they could draw a picture showing a way that they would like to behave.
  

Discussion Starters for Older Students

• Vocabulary terms to discuss: Scrutiny; Reputation; Conciliatory; and, Stonewalling.
  
• Ask students what it means to apologize for something. What has to happen inside of an individual for a real apology to take place, if anything. (Note: The Jewish Holiday of Yom Kippur begins this evening. This holiday stresses the importance of repentance.)
  
• Students might answer these questions in small groups and then report back to the entire class.
  
• Do students think that Mattel should have apologized to China? Why/why not? What questions might they like to have answered before answering this question definitively. Why would they want these questions answered?
  
• Students might conduct an investigation to determine if they think that Mattel should have apologized. Alternatively, ask students to read the comments posted in response to this article. What might be learned about the writers of these comments from these comments? Encourage students to support their answers.
  
• What alternative reasons might Mattel have had for apologizing to China? Do students think that it would have been ethical for Mattel to apologize if their sole reason was to promote their business within China? Why/why not? Have students ever apologized for something for which they did not believe an apology was necessary in order to get out of trouble? Encourage students to explain!!
• Students might consider these questions in a class discussion.