TEACHER-DIRECTED DISCUSSION

Step One

Have each member of the class read the background information on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on government policies such as multiculturalism and diversity. Have a discussion with the class on the importance of all of these rights within a society and in particular a country like Canada. Link the notion of human rights to anti-racism and discrimination.
This is the central question or thesis of the teaching unit: When human rights are observed, do racism and discrimination diminish, and are all peoples recognized as having an equal place in society? Talk about some of the government policies that Canada has in place that help promote multiculturalism and diversity (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-18.7/31929.html). What sort of impact do members of the class feel these policies have had and has the impact been positive or negative? Have students give specific reasons for their answers.
For more information on these issues, please visit www.citzine.ca.

Step Two – Debate the Issues

Divide the class into three and four member discussion groups. Ask half of the groups to examine and list the challenges presented by a multicultural society. Have the other groups discuss the notion that having a multicultural society delivers positive developments and have them document the benefits. Each group will appoint a spokesperson who will state the position of their group and read out the list of challenges or benefits.
The teacher will jot the Challenges and Benefits on the board for all to see. With the lists side by side, is it possible to draw any conclusions based on the two distinct lists? Overall, does the class feel that a multicultural society is a good thing or not? If there are challenges, what can be done to address them and to enhance the benefits?