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Most Dangerous Woman in America, The
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Viewing Ideas
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Before Watching
Review the following terms with your students (see Activity Answer
for definitions): bacteria, contagious, epidemiology, infectious, and
quarantine.
Organize the class into four groups and have each group take notes on one of
the following points of view presented in the program: public health officials,
Mary Mallon, families whose members contracted typhoid fever from Mallon, and
the general public.
After Watching
Have each group reflect on the out- look presented by the person or group it
followed in the program. Then have each group recount a short summary of the
point of view and the group's opinion about that point of view. Ask the class
to discuss how the groups' views differ. What points do the students agree
with? Disagree with? Why?
Mary Mallon was confined because as a healthy carrier of typhoid she could
transmit the disease to others, yet she continued to work in a job in which
transmission was likely. Did public health officials make the right decision
when they removed her from her job? Why or why not? What are the rights and
responsibilities of an individual who can transmit a disease? What are the
rights and responsibilities of the society in which the individual lives?
Have students research school health policies. What are the guidelines for
dealing with a range of contagious diseases or an epidemic? What do students
think about existing policies? Have students defend their reasoning.
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