Active learning ideas
Poverty and welfare are central to the debate about the 'social contract.' This topic analyzes the root causes of poverty, from systemic inequality to individual circumstances, and evaluates the effectiveness of different welfare models. Students debate the merits of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) and the concept of a 'living wage' versus a 'minimum wage.'
Activity 01
Students are given a 'budget' based on a low-income salary in Singapore. They must make difficult choices about housing, food, and education, experiencing the 'scarcity mindset' that poverty creates.
Is poverty an inevitable feature of capitalism?
Activity 02
Students debate the motion: 'This house believes that UBI is the best solution to poverty in the age of automation.' They must consider the economic cost versus the social benefit.
What is the most effective way to eradicate poverty?
Activity 03
Students discuss whether poverty should be addressed through private charity or state-led social justice programs. They share their views on which approach is more sustainable and dignified.
Should governments implement a universal basic income?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Poverty is always the result of poor individual choices.
Systemic factors like lack of access to quality education or healthcare play a huge role. Using a 'simulation' of life on a low income helps students see how easily one 'bad break' can lead to a cycle of debt.
Welfare programs always make people 'lazy' and dependent.
Many welfare programs are designed to 'empower' people to get back into the workforce (like Singapore's Workfare). Peer teaching about 'conditional cash transfers' helps students see that welfare can be a springboard rather than a safety net.
Methods used in this brief
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