Agree or disagree?
The scenarios below have been developed for discussion purposes only and are not to be considered as fact. In examining these, discuss from various perspectives.A group of parents has petitioned to the Minister of Education to have both the theory of evolution and the theory of creationism taught in classes as possible explanations for human development. They argue that students need to understand both theories and to not teach both is discriminatory. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the parents' petition?
A teacher invited a representative of the Supreme Party (which denies the Holocaust) and a representative of the local anti-racism committee into her class to debate that the Holocaust was a hoax. Some parents complain that the teacher's choice of activity is discriminatory against some students and want her disciplined. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the parents' request?
A school board notifies its schools that it will not approve field trip requests to see the musical "Da Kink in My Hair" by Trey Anthony since the school board believes that the play stereotypes and discriminates against West Indian women and, further, the play portrays them in a harmful way. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the board's decision?
A student wears a sweatshirt to class that supports the Tamil tigers with the slogan "We want Tamil Eelam!". Several teachers of Sri Lankan background protest to the principal that the slogan discriminates against them since they do not uphold the Tamil Tiger movement and the violence that the group has inflicted on some people in Sri Lanka. The principal sends the student home to change but the parents send the student back with the same sweatshirt the next day because they feel that the oppressed people in north and east Sri Lanka need an independent state and that message needs to be known in Canada. The school's principal suspends the student with the directive that the suspension is in force until the sweatshirt is no longer worn. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the suspension?
A teacher who wants students to understand about different peoples of the world has created a bulletin board of a world map and pictures of people from around the world. Several pictures are art pieces from the 1930s and portray stereotypical images of Africans with spears, of First Nations people in buckskin loincloths, and of Spaniards as bullfighters. Some parents have complained that these portrayals have led to an atmosphere where their children have experienced discrimination and ask that the art pieces be removed from the class. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the parents' request?
