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RULES

Posted by Melanie Alde in Humanities 7.1 | Humanities 7.2 | Humanities 7.3 | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

This unit will focus on rules, law and government. We will explore when, why rules and laws are necessary in our homes, our community, our country and the world. We will take a look at the organization of early settlements from feudalism and oligarchies with a focus on some of the first laws written by Hammurabi. We will then move into different types of governments and how they differ, focusing on a few memorable leaders – both famous and infamous. We will also take a look at propaganda techniques. Finally, we will move into how to go about change within your own government.

Unit Question: How do rules affect my life?

AOI:Human Ingenuity

People have created different ways of organizing communities, and nations from ancient civilizations to current systems today.

Significant Concept: Systems

Civilizations and government systems influence society.

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Media: Good or Bad?

Posted by Melanie Alde in Humanities 7.1 | Humanities 7.2 - (32 Comments)

Media and freedom of information can be viewed and used in positive and negative ways. The Gr. 7.1 and 7.2 class came up with this list of how media can be used in ‘good’ ways, and in ‘bad’ ways:

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
More knowledge and information

Easy to share

Source of income

Keep in contact with people

Easy to get information

Entertaining

Provides facts, expose the truth

Feeds popularity/Fame

Show talents

Expression

 

 Identity theft

Criminal activity

Privacy invasion

Cyber bullying

To much information

Easy to steel information

False information

Too much time spent on computers

Dangerous

 

Do you think people should be able to report, write and share information freely? Why or Why not?

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Good and Evil

Posted by Melanie Alde in Humanities 7.1 | Humanities 7.2 - (88 Comments)

This term we have been discussing rules and how they affect your life. But who is to say what is right, and what is wrong? Who makes the rules anyway? Rules/laws in your culture might differ greatly from rules/laws in another culture, because the idea of right and wrong differ greatly. Also the way laws and rules are enforces differ greatly.

What is Authority?
Who gets it?
How do they get it?

Why do we need it?

If people are ‘basically good, and civilized’, then why do we even need laws? Can’t we self govern? Or do we have to be taught and told how to behave? Do you believe people are born good, or born evil?

This film is about a study by Philip Zimbardo in 1971. It was called the Stanford Prison Experiment, and was a famous, highly controversial, ethical study (there is a modern movie about it called ‘The Experiment’, but you need to ask your parents permission to watch it).  This experiment was carried out before there were laws concerning ethical issues.  Groups of students were paid to perform the roles of ‘prisoner’ and ‘guard’ to see how people conform to roles and obedience. The experiment was to carry on for two weeks, but had to be pulled to a halt due to the harm inflicted on the participants.

Watch:

Caution, some scenes show acts of violence and course language.

If you were a guard how do you think you would have responded? If you were a prisoner how would you have responded? How did this film make you feel?

How do you feel about human nature after watching this Philip Zimbardo film and learning about Milgram’s experiment ?

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Rules.

Posted by Melanie Alde in Humanities 7.1 | Humanities 7.2 - (10 Comments)

Living in Indonesia has it’s benefits and pitfalls for various reasons. On the topic of rules, regulation and laws – I noticed when I went home to Canada that everything is so VERY, VERY regulated, ‘no smoking in public, children must be in a car seat until 20lbs, seat belts, no watering your lawn at a certain time, you must have a license for everything, no peeing in public …. and on and on and on. We have so many rules and laws that control all aspects of life. Even what we do in the privacy of our own homes is regulated to some extent. It’s a stark contrast to the rules and regulations in Indonesia. In many ways, I feel more free to do as I please in Indonesia. However, Canada is supposed to be strong and free. Also, in Indonesia I don’t feel nearly as ‘safe’.  In what ways do rules and regulations limit your freedom, and/or give you security? Which is more important and why?

Canada Map and Flag     Indonesia Map and Flag

For fun: Here is a site with some of Canada’s Crazy laws.

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