Now that we have looked at the key ideas relating to liberalism, we will now take a deeper look at the promotion of liberalism. We live in a modern liberal society - and yet can we always say that we act according to those principals? Can we have individual freedom while also protecting society during a crisis? Is if fair to expect other societies that don't have our Enlightenment influences to readily accept or even really understand what it means to live in a liberal democracy? These are some of the questions we will be exploring in this unit.
Unit Overview
Case studies (not an exhaustive list)
Case Study Worksheet
Key Issues
Collective rights versus the common good.
Individual rights versus the common good.
The consequences of imposing liberalism on various societies.
The challenges of accepting or rejecting liberalism in the modern world.
POTENTIAL INQUIRY PROJECTS
Citizenship Journal
This assignment has students look at what their opinions are. Using the information provided in class, they will express those opinions with evidence to back up their ideas. In addition, images will help to reinforce their opinions. (Note - this assignment includes information from this unit as well as the Citizenship unit) Comic Life - this assignment will have you create a comic strip to demonstrate your understanding of key issues in this unit.
|
Student Teaching - you will be teaching the class. This means you will have to research your topic in depth (you need to be prepared if your students ask questions) and will have to create an evaluation tool that will assess your students' learning. Your teacher will provide you with some ideas on how to create your lesson plan so that your 40 minute presentation will be effective.
|
RAFT - a RAFT is a type of project where you research a topic, and then decide how you are going to present what you have learned in the topic by thinking about what Role, Audience, and Format you will use to demonstrate the important facts about your Topic. This assignment has several different topics that relate to the key issues covered in this unit.
*Your teacher will provide you with a more specific research sheet once you have chosen your topic |
Museum box - students create a cube that visually demonstrates their learning on a variety of topics (similar to those assigned for the student teaching project).
- Here is a template for creating the cube Photo Assignment - you research a famous photo that relates to issues being discussed in class |
Lesson One - Human Rights In Canada
How did liberalism evolve in terms of human rights?
Some other resources:
|
Lesson Two - Dissent in A Liberal Society
To what extent should we obey the authority of our governments?
Does dissent actually improve the ideas of liberalism?
When does dissent go too far?
Video Link
www.davidneufeld.ca/our-voices-taking-back
|
Some other resources
- Good summary video of the key ideas of Martin Luther King's "I have a Dream" speech - Selma trailer - While China is not a liberal nation, the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 were an attempt to make the country more liberal. This article looks at how the government has been able to make it irrelevant to the Chinese |
LESSON Three the imposition of liberalism
|
Some other resources
|
Lesson Four - Illiberalism
Has Canada always exemplified the ideals of liberalism?
How can Canada meet the needs of all Canadians? How do these issues reflect our liberal values?
Do collective rights for Aboriginal peoples and Francophones violate the ideals of individualism?
How do we protect ourselves, and our liberal principals without becoming illiberal?
During a crisis how should the individual act? How should the collective (government) act?
|
Some other resources: |
|
Alternative Resources
For a good analysis of current events, check out CNN's GPS
Movies
Movies
- In the Name of the Father - a great movie looking at the how rule of law can be violated (based on the true story of a man imprisoned for a bombing committed by the Irish Republican Army in Britain).
- Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? - this movie may be somewhat dated now that Bin Laden was found, but it's a fun look at how the imposition of liberalism doesn't always work out the way it's planned.
- V for Vendetta - this is an adaptation of the book 1984 and demonstrates how governments try to justify illiberal actions.
- Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools - while the author was somewhat discredited, both of these books still have an important message on how to spread liberal ideals without using violence - a great read!
- The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns - you might have been required to read The Kite Runner in English class, but did you also read the follow up book? (I actually preferred A Thousand Splendid Suns as it does a really great job describing what it is like to be a woman in Afghanistan)
- The Help is a great book that gives various perspectives of a time in US history where illiberalism was justified by the majority.
- Elizabeth and Hazel is a great book that looks at two women who became icons during the Civil Rights Movement and how a photograph of them changed their lives.
- The Hunger Games series - okay, this is not highbrow reading, but it does a great job of demonstrating what a government will do to maintain power by manipulating a crisis. Those familiar with Roman history will see references to the actions of that empire.
Textbook Questions
Social 30-1
Social 30-2
|
"Top Ten" Notes
Rights Dissent Imposition Illiberalism Old Notes
|
Ms. Gill's Great online lectures
|
Tentative schedule fall 2021 - Please see Daily Agenda for what we actually did each day