Wednesday, 9/23

Today's Driving Questions

• What is the difference between a just and unjust law?
  
• What is  the individual’s role in creating a just society?
  
• What is Civil Disobedience?

Starter # 15: Core Values Reflection
Context
This project (and a lot of junior year Humanities) is about defining who you are and what your core values are and how to take a stand on what you believe.  As we go through this Morality and Politics of Justice project, I'll ask you to take a stand on a variety of political issues and explore which core American constitutional values of Security, Liberty and Equality are most important to you and how best to balance the three.  In order to do that, you've got to know more generally what your core values are.  So, this starter is designed to get you thinking about and defining those values

Instructions

• Read this list of values on page 2
  
• Write down the ten which you feel are most important to you.  Feel free to add your own if you feel it is missing (5 minutes)
  
• Now, cross off 5 of those values, leaving you with 3-5 that you feel are the most important to you and how you live your life (5 minutes)
  

CLASS BIZ

• Once you've submitted your interview and final DP Reflection, please complete the self-assessment by grading yourself on the rubric (copies in class) and turn in to Ashley!
  
• Permission form and info for Junior class retreat
• No PEAK meeting this week
  
• Emily-- honors conference at lunch!
  
• Claire-- honors conference 7th period (check in with your advisor first)

Agenda
1. Pair-Share: With your partner, share your core values.  Reflect with each other as to why you think those 3-5 are so important to you and how they show up in the way you live your life, treat other people, and expect to be treated.  

2.  4 Corners:  We should be required by the law to wear seat belts

3. SECURITY, LIBERTY, EQUALITY
  As a group decide which of these following 3 statements you most agree with and then come up with a law that proves each statement true (past or present law). Lastly, write your law on the board under the correct column.

• Laws should be designed to maximize our safety/security
  
• Laws should be designed to maximize our freedom
  
• Laws should be designed to maximize equality

4. Read Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail"

• Highlight a section/quote that strikes you as powerful/inspiring/convincing
  
• Highlight the lines that describes Dr. King's distinction between a just law and unjust law
  
• Highlight the lines where King defends his "direct action" methods compared to courtroom negotiation
• Circle any words or phrases that you don't understand
• When you finish, jot down some thoughts in your starter google doc to the seminar questions below

 
Seminar Questions on  Dr. King's Letter

• How does Dr. King distinguish between an unjust and just law? 
  
• Do you agree that we have a moral responsibility to obey just laws and disobey unjust laws? 
  
• How do we decide what is just or unjust? 
  
• Would you ever sacrifice your freedom or life in the way MLK and other civil rights activists did? 
  
• Do you believe he deserves to pay for breaking an unjust law? 
  
• Critics of King’s tactics said the fight for desegregation should happen in the courts, not on the streets. Do you agree? Do you trust our “Justice system”?
• King argues freedom is never voluntarily given up by the oppressor.  Do you agree? What other political/social event supports your opinion?  

5.  Ashley's PPT introduction of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail


6. If time:  Check out copies of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail and begin reading!