Just, Unjust!
Shenaz Nanwani, Year 6 and K. Mirchandani, IMYC Teacher
The Year 8s had an Entry Point about their new topic - Justice.
Students were asked to carry buckets of water to from one end
of the field to the other. When their ‘job’ had finished, they
were then rewarded. The only problem is – they were rewarded
differently. The boys received more candies than the girls.
The girls protested of course and one of the male students,
Benedict Wong, said: “I’m so lucky I’m a boy!” The girls,
unfortunately then, could not say the same.
The whole point of the Entry Point, according to Mrs Kam, Year
8 IMYC Teacher, is to give students first-hand experience of
injustice, and have a more concrete idea of what some people
feel when they are treated unfairly.
The activity was followed by a free time basketball game; but
then again, not everyone was allowed to participate. Students,
who were in the ‘minority’, having a different nationality from
the rest, could only sit and watch. Students understood better
what minorities felt, being treated differently.
Students then expressed their thoughts and feelings, and asked
questions about the realities of life. They then came up with
their own ideas of ‘what the world will be like if everyone was
treated fairly’. It was a good wake up call, especially since
apartheid (separation based on colour) happened in the past
and gender discrimination is still happening in many countries.
Students will explore the big idea: “A fair society is organised
so that no one unduly suffers for the benefit of others,” and
look forward to what lies ahead. They have already researched
efforts made by Fair Trade, an organisation which helps local
farmers and workers receive a fair price for their products. A
special plus is a visit for a talk by Mr Chris Razmovski and Ms
Devi Selvana Lange, two very important individuals who play
essential roles in organisations that create a fairer society.
11