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    This document provides resources for a classroom activity discussing politicians' behavior and the ethical issues surrounding the use of power. The activity involves students considering examples of controversial actions by politicians and determining whether they cross ethical lines. It is meant to promote critical thinking skills and open discussion of complex topics related to justice, democracy, and responsibility. The goal is for students to collectively determine general principles for acceptable behavior by those in power.

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    This document provides resources for a classroom activity discussing politicians' behavior and the ethical issues surrounding the use of power. The activity involves students considering examples of controversial actions by politicians and determining whether they cross ethical lines. It is meant to promote critical thinking skills and open discussion of complex topics related to justice, democracy, and responsibility. The goal is for students to collectively determine general principles for acceptable behavior by those in power.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    34 views15 pages

    Politicians and Power Exercise

    Uploaded by

    Mara
    This document provides resources for a classroom activity discussing politicians' behavior and the ethical issues surrounding the use of power. The activity involves students considering examples of controversial actions by politicians and determining whether they cross ethical lines. It is meant to promote critical thinking skills and open discussion of complex topics related to justice, democracy, and responsibility. The goal is for students to collectively determine general principles for acceptable behavior by those in power.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 15

    Shutterstock.

    com / 360b
    Shutterstock.com / Frederic Legrand – COMEO
    Shutterstock.com / photocosmos1

    POLITICIANS
    AND POWER
    Shutterstock.com / Brandon Stivers 40-MINUTE ACTIVITY
    Introduction
    PUBLISHED JANUARY 31ST 2020

    These resources were produced by The Economist Educational Foundation,


    an independent charity that was set up by The Economist magazine.
    We combine The Economist’s journalistic know-how with teaching expertise,
    and we specialise in supporting teachers to facilitate high-quality classroom
    discussions about the news.

    About this resource


    This resource gives students the opportunity to discuss and make judgements on real
    examples of politicians’ behaviour, leading to ethical questions about justice, democracy,
    responsibility and power. It complements the National Curriculum for England: KS2-4
    Citizenship, including the role and responsibilities of Parliament.
    This resource helps to develop the following skills:

    SCEPTICISM REASONING SPEAKING UP OPEN-MINDEDNESS


    Questioning information Justifying a Confidently communicating Listening to other
    to find the truth viewpoint a viewpoint viewpoints

    Let us know about any interesting discussions you have!


    @Econ_Foundation
    #newsthinking #econfoundation #newsliteracy

    BEFORE THE SESSION YOU NEED TO HAVE:


    The Politician examples, printed and cut up
    The Big questions, printed and placed around the room
    A space in which students can move around
    POLITICIANS AND POWER
    ACTIVITY 1

    10-MINUTE ACTIVITY

    Where do you draw the line?


    Resources
    No resources needed.

    Activity instructions
    Move all students to a space in the classroom. Draw or mark out a line in the
    middle of the space. Tell students that the expression “to cross the line” means to
    do something wrong. Ask them to think of examples of behaviour that they think
    crosses the line (for example: stealing, fighting, lying). Invite them to physically cross
    the line and share their example with a partner, and justify why it is wrong.
    Next, ask students to be sceptical. Can they give any reasons why their own
    examples might be accepted in some situations?
    Then, ask students to be open-minded. Assign them a different perspective to their
    own. For example: a religious leader, an elderly person, a young child. See whether
    they can give new examples, from that person’s perspective. Discuss why there might
    be differences between people and why acceptability may be relative in some cases.
    POLITICIANS AND POWER
    ACTIVITY 2

    15-MINUTE ACTIVITY

    Politician examples
    Resources
    The Politician examples, printed and cut up

    Activity instructions
    Ask students to stand next to the line. Give some students a Politician examples card,
    one each. Select one student to read their example to the group. Everyone should
    decide the extent to which they think it “crosses the line”. They should show their
    opinion by moving: the further they move away from the line, the more unacceptable
    they think the example is. If they think it’s acceptable, they do not cross the line.
    Ask your students to share their reasons with others standing close by. Invite some
    students to share their reasons with the class then repeat with the next example.
    Afterwards, get students to think about general principles of behaviour by asking
    each one to complete the following sentence:
    “A politician’s behaviour is unacceptable if…”
    Work together to formulate a general rule that everyone agrees on.
    Politician examples

    Boris Johnson John Prescott


    Johnson is the UK Prime Minister. He Prescott punched a protester in the
    asked the Queen to prorogue (shut) face in 2001 because the protester
    Parliament for five weeks in Autumn threw an egg at him. Prescott was
    2019. This was an unusually long Deputy Prime Minister in a Labour
    time, especially as Britain was due government at the time.
    to agree on a Brexit deal by October
    31st. Some people said it was an illegal
    move by the government because
    it would reduce the amount of time
    that Parliament had to block a no-deal
    Brexit.

    Shutterstock.com / Michael Tubi Shutterstock.com / David Fowler

    Chris Huhne Hazel Blears


    Huhne was a Liberal Democrat MP Blears was a Labour MP and cabinet
    and the Energy and Climate Change minister in 2009 when it was
    Secretary when he was caught driving uncovered that five years earlier she
    over the speed limit. His wife took had lied. Blears was accused of lying
    the blame for him at the time. She so she could avoid paying a property
    accepted the penalty points on her tax that people in the UK have to pay
    driving licence so that her husband when they sell a second home. Blears
    wouldn’t be banned from driving. also spent £4,874 of the government�s
    However, when they split up, she money on furniture, £913 on a new TV
    revealed the truth. and £400 a month on groceries.

    Photo by Chatham House / CC BY 2.0 Photo by Steve Punter / CC BY 2.0


    Politician examples

    Justin Trudeau Saad Hariri


    The Prime Minister of Canada wore Hariri is a former Prime Minister
    “brownface” makeup to a fancy-dress of Lebanon. He gave more than
    party at the school where he taught. $16 million to a South African
    He was at an “Arabian Nights” themed model who said they had a romantic
    gala. He wore a turban and robes with relationship. Hariri was not in office
    his face, neck and hands completely when he sent the money and the
    darkened. This happened in 2001 but transfer does not appear to have
    the public found out about it during a violated any Lebanese or South
    general election campaign in 2019. African laws.

    Shutterstock.com / photocosmos1 Shutterstock.com / Alexandros Michailidis

    Donald Trump Silvio


    Trump is the President of the United Berlusconi
    States of America, and is accused of
    Berlusconi is a former Prime Minister
    blocking aid (help) to Ukraine unless
    of Italy. He made inappropriate
    it announced an investigation into
    comments throughout his political
    Hunter Biden, the son of Trump’s
    career. After the worst earthquake
    political rival. Some people said Trump
    Italy had seen in three decades,
    did this to gain an advantage over his
    Berlusconi said that the people
    rival in the 2020 presidential election.
    who had been left homeless should
    see their experience as a camping
    weekend. At the time, 260 people
    were known to have died.

    Shutterstock.com / Brandon Stivers Shutterstock.com / miqu77


    POLITICIANS AND POWER
    ACTIVITY 3

    15-MINUTE ACTIVITY

    The big questions


    Resources
    The Big questions, printed and placed around the room

    Activity instructions
    Ask students to choose one of the Big questions placed around the room, and stand
    next to it. Aim for roughly equal numbers at each question. Group members should
    discuss the question, doing their best to build on each other’s thoughts. Give each
    group three minutes of discussion time before they switch to another question and
    repeat.
    Afterwards, ask students to report on one of their discussions. Challenge students to
    only say what they heard in the discussion, rather than what they contributed.
    Ask for their opinions on what they heard, and push them to give reasons.
    Q U E ST I ON
    BI G

    r t o e x p e c t
    Is i t f a i
    a v i o u r f ro m
    bette r b e h
    s t h a n f ro m
    polit i c i a n
    n e e l s e ?
    everyo
    BIG QUESTION

    Does power lead to


    corruption?
    U E ST I O N
    BIG Q

    h av e v o t e d
    When y o u
    o n e , s h o u l d
    for so m e
    t w h a t ev e r
    you a cc e p
    o n c e t h e y
    th ey d o
    p o w e r ?
    are in
    BIG QUESTION
    When should voters
    judge politicians
    for what they did
    in the past?
    Q U E ST I ON
    BI G

    o w e r m a k e
    Do e s p
    a v i o u r
    bad beh o r e
    v o i d a b l e , m
    una h e r ?
    e ly , o r n e i t
    li k
    BIG QUESTION
    Does the poor beha
    viour
    of some politicians
    make us judge them
    all too harshly?
    Want more news literacy
    resources?
    The Economist Educational Burnet News Club
    Foundation offers a range of Everything you need to run a weekly
    programmes to help teachers and current affairs club in your primary
    students have inspiring, in-depth or secondary school
    discussions about current affairs
    whilst developing their critical Inquiry
    thinking skills. A six-session scheme of resources
    each half term, perfect for PSHE

    Find out more at INSET


    economistfoundation.org Develop critical thinking, oracy and
    independence through heaps of
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    Workshops
    Students dive into an issue over the
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    perspectives and having their say

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    now with having An immersive, one-day event that
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    BU

    R B
    NE
    T LU
    TE N E W S C
    ACH E R
    The Economist Educational Foundation

    [email protected]
    www.economistfoundation.org
    @econ_foundation
    Shutterstock.com / 360b
    A charity registered in England and Wales Shutterstock.com / Frederic Legrand – COMEO
    (charity number: 1147661) Shutterstock.com / photocosmos1

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