An issue is something which is of concern to you in your school, local area, state, nation, or world. In this section, you will identify an issue which you wish to solve, explore who is responsible for this issue, and how you can use your power to influence others about this issue.
As you decide which issue you want to focus on throughout this unit of work, it’s important to consider your values, and what in your local and global community is important to you. Some of the activities in this section will help you reflect on these values, and see the links between personal views and community issues.
Our beliefs, experiences, family and friends have an impact on our actions and ways of thinking. Before you select an issue, it is important to understand where you stand on things and what values you think are important for community members to share.
Activity Instructions:
Complete this short quiz to see just how political you are! Choose one answer for each question.
In every community there are things that we do well and there are those that we could do much better. What do you consider to be the most important issue in your school or your local area, that is not affecting only you but a large portion of your community?
Activity Instructions:
Using the sliders, indicate how important you think each of the following issues are. Compare your results with the class and be prepared to justify why you think these issues are important!
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
Extremely Important
Less Important
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Extremely Important
Everyone has responsibilities in our community, and that includes our elected representatives. Each level of government is responsible for different aspects of our lives. It’s important we know who does what so that if we want to talk to someone about an issue with a certain thing, we know who, from which level of government, we need to speak to.
Who Decides? accessible version
Power is often something that we identify politicians or wealthy public figures as having, but we all have our own kind of power. In this activity, practice using the power you have to persuade your friends, family, and those who make decisions within your community to consider the issues you care about.
Activity Instructions:
Consider the perspective of a person in a position of power and respond to their concerns in a persuasive way.
Case Study
Jacob loves sports, after school he plays AFL and he really wants to be a professional basketball player. He is rather disappointed at the state of the school sports hall and the availability of the gym equipment. The basketballs are in a terrible condition and the outside court is deteriorating. Jacob’s woodwork teacher has announced that the school has decided to build a new woodwork area, to refurbish the existing tools in the classroom, install a 3D printer and to add computers. Jacob is rather disappointed that students weren’t consulted and he decides to approach his school principal about the matter.
Activity Instructions
Although all of the questions below are important for Jacob to have answers to, which are more likely that the Principal will ask?
Select the top 5 questions you believe Jacob's principal is most likely to ask. Once you've chosen these questions, draft Jacob's response. Ensure that it is persuasive!
Did you consult with other students? Is this what they want?
Refurbishing the sports hall is in the plan. Why is it important for this to be solved now?
The school has spent its money on a new woodwork area. We do not have any funds. Where do we find the money?
Some students don’t like sports. Why is this more important than refurbishing the drama hall?
What can you compromise on? What is the most pressing issue to solve now?
This is a school council issue. They set the priorities for work to be done. Have you spoken with them?
If we don’t have tools, students can’t make things in woodwork class. Why should we do this?
Students are not respecting the property. If we update our facilities, the problem will still occur.