Free Lesson Plans for Teachers: Democracy in Crisis

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Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
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Democracy in Crisis
April 23, 2007

The International Herald Tribune is running an article entitled, "Africa's
Crisis of Democracy, with Nigeria at Forefront."

The article states, "Analysts said the Nigerian vote was the starkest
example of a worrying trend - even as African countries hold more
elections, many of their citizens are steadily losing confidence in their
democracies." Many African citizens long for the military dictatorships
that at least guaranteed security and economic stability if not economic
growth.

The article adds, "With the decline of manufacturing and few formal
jobs, (that has accompanied the emergence of democracy) many
residents make a meager living off one another's misery. Idriss
Abdoulaye sells water from a pushcart..about 15 cents, to people like
himself, too poor to have wells. He makes about $2 a day, and cannot
afford to send his sons to school. Instead they go to a Koranic school,
where they learn the Koran by rote." Abdoulaye adds, "There is no future
for the poor man in this country."

Read the Article!!

Discussion-Starters for Younger Children

Do your students think that they should be able to say what they
think and how they feel, to others? Why/why not? Do they think
that anybody cares what they have to say? Why/why not? (Help
them understand that their opinions are important.)

Consider asking students to draw a picture of somebody
listening to somebody else who is saying something
important.

Ask your students what they have to be thankful for. If they
didn't have these things how would they feel? Why?

Consider asking students to list three things for which they
are thankful.

Do your students know any of their friends' parents? Should they
listen to their friends parents? Why/why not? Are their friends'
parents important people? Why/why not? Are their friends
important people? Why/why not?

Ask your students to identify one of the friends' parents
whom they really admire. What three things about this
parent do they admire? Why?

Ask your students how they use water in their lives. For what do
they use water? How would they feel if they did not have any
water? Why?

Students could develop skits in which they demonstrate
how water is used.

Discussion-Starters for Older Students

Vocabulary terms to discuss: Disillusioned; Starkest; Vividly; and,
Infrastructure.

Would your students prefer to live in a country ruled by a military
dictator who would not let them have a say in governance but
would ensure that they earned a livable wage or live in a
democracy where they did not earn sufficient funds to provide
shelter and food for their families but they were allowed to share
their opinions? Why? What can we learn from this question about
the importance of democracy, if anything?

Consider asking students to write reflective essays in
response to these questions. Alternatively, consider asking
students to write a defense of democracy.

Should the United States of America care if citizens of African
nations don't have enough food and water to provide for their
basic needs? Why/why not? Should the United States government
care if African nations are run by military dictators or
democratically elected governments? Why/why not?

These prompts could make for an interesting class
discussion? (What does the word "charity" mean?

Pose: Imagine that you worked for an organization that worked to
empower poor Africans to earn both higher incomes and more
influence over their government. What are the two most important
"things" with which your organization should provide these
citizens? Explain!!

In groups of two or three, students could develop
proposals in response to these questions. The proposals
could be submitted to the organization's board.

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