Rights and responsibilities in a shared-space scenario

Use an invented public-space disagreement where several people have legitimate interests. The discussion becomes more useful when children consider how the interests interact instead of trying to name one perfectly behaved character.

A child can disagree with a proposal while listening to the person explaining it.

Keep each person's interests visible

Discuss a concrete scenario with several people's interests. Avoid suggesting that fulfilling a responsibility automatically removes someone else's rights.

Identify an opportunity to participate. Describe a responsibility in the situation. Propose an action that respects another person's participation.

Avoid suggesting basic rights must be earned through compliance. Whose participation does the proposed action protect?

Use fictional characters and allow passing.

Resources

• Fair Rule or Random Rule? — Compare proposed rules and explain their practical effects.

Further reading

• Parliamentary Education Office — classroom activities
• Australian Electoral Commission — Democracy Rules

Read next

• A fictional public budget: explain what the numbers leave out
• Questions a civic visitor can meaningfully answer
• When more than one government looks after a service

Explore Civics and democratic participation. Browse all teaching articles.