County Solutions Teacher Guide Step 4: Consider the Context. Step by Step

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1 County Solutions Teacher Guide Step 4: Consider the Context Time Needed: 1 class period + time outside of class as needed Materials: Student handouts Students work products from Steps 2 & 3 Preparation: Reading (2 pages; class set) Practice Activity (2 pages; class set) Context Web (1 page; class set) Context Analysis Template (2 pages; class set) Step by Step Objectives: By the end of this step, students will be able to... Identify factors that affect their issue Find relationships among those factors and see how they affect each other Analyze the factors to understand the context in which their issue exists Determine which factors are more or less susceptible to change Optional Formats & Materials: Fillable PDF versions are available with the other teacher materials for this step. Anticipate Distribute Read Distribute Allow Discuss Distribute Allow Assign Schedule by asking students where they ve heard the word context before and how they ve heard it used. What does it mean when you talk about the context of something? (If necessary, explain that context means the set of circumstances or facts that surround something.) Tell students that in this step, they ll be looking at their issue in light of its context. Why do they think that might be important? the reading to the class. with the class, pausing to discuss. Alternatively, have students read in groups or independently. the practice activity to the class. Preview with the class as appropriate. students time to complete the practice activity. students answers to the practice activity to help prepare them for filling out the Context Web and the Context Analysis Template. For activity A, consider having the class give change-susceptibility ratings to additional factors on the list. the Context Web and the Context Analysis Template. time for students to get started in class, if possible, so you can help if they get stuck. students to finish the web and template between now and whenever you ve scheduled Step 5. dates to check students progress so you can help if needed icivics, Inc. You may copy, distribute, or transmit this work for noncommercial purposes only. This copyright notice or a legally valid equivalent such as 2017 icivics Inc. shall be included in all such copies, distributions or transmittals. All other rights reserved. Find this lesson and other materials at

2 By now, you know your issue doesn t exist in a vacuum. It s affected by a wide variety of factors that contribute to the circumstances surrounding the issue. Think of your issue as something that lives in a pre-existing framework of laws, policies, actions, and challenges. This framework is the context in which your issue exists, and it can t be ignored. No effort to move the needle will be successful without taking the context into consideration. In this step, you ll examine your issue s context and consider the unique factors that affect it. Laws & Regulations Issues can run, but they can t hide: Almost any issue you can think of is affected by laws. Maybe you came across some references to this while you were doing your research. (If not, make a note right now to look it up.) Only a legislative body can pass laws, and there are legislative bodies at all levels of government the state legislature, the county board of supervisors (which may be called something different where you live), and even the city or town council. Laws at the state level are called statutes, while laws at the county and local levels are usually called ordinances. Sometimes a legislative body gives rulemaking authority to another part of government. For example, the county board may give the county facilities department the authority to make additional rules for a popular local park. The additional rules made by a department are usually called regulations. Government Policies Your issue may be affected by laws and regulations at several levels of government. Even an issue that seems purely local on the surface could be governed by rules at the state or federal level. It s critical to find out about this because laws and regulations can affect your options for taking action. For example, if your issue is migrating geese making a huge mess at the park, you ll want to know it s against federal law to transport migratory birds before you launch your Operation Movea-Goose program. If your issue is community togetherness, and you re planning a weekly Feed the Ducks Frenzy, better check local ordinances and regulations to see if feeding ducks at the park is prohibited. If government agencies are involved in your issue in any way, you ll want to know the agency s policies regarding the issue. These are the principles that guide government officials when making decisions or passing laws. Government policies affect the kinds of actions the government takes to address an issue and the kinds of efforts that the government will support. If you re thinking about pushing for some kind of change in the way government is addressing your issue, your effort might be a lost cause if it s not consistent with government policy. Of course, you might decide that a particular government policy is the issue. In that case, your plan might be to change the government s policy. Often, government agencies will explain their approach to an issue or their reasoning for taking certain actions. This can help you figure out what their policies are even if they don t have an Our Policies page on their website (which they probably won t). You can also look for an agency s goals and then look at the steps they re taking to achieve those goals. What do those steps suggest about the agency s policies about your issue? IYOUR SSUE 2017 icivics, Inc. Reading Side A

3 Get at the Roots Every issue has a cause. Some are simple to figure out: Your neighborhood streets flood every time it rains because the county government hasn t maintained the drainage system. Others aren t so easy. Many issues have a complex web of root causes that can seem impossible to fully identify, let alone solve. But the root causes of your issue are the ultimate factors that drive the issue and keep it going. Based on what you ve learned, you should be able to do some thoughtful analysis of your issue s root causes. What s really standing in the way of something better? As you think about this, also consider what cycles keep the problem going. For example, people who are homeless often are also out of work. In order to find a place to live, they need money. But in order to get a job, they need a permanent address. That s a well-known cycle that contributes to chronic homelessness. Are there cycles that keep your issue from being permanently resolved? Catch Flies The Almighty Dollar 2017 icivics, Inc. Attitude Adjustment People s attitudes are also part of the context in which an issue exists. The reason most issues are issues in the first place is because people have feelings and opinions about the situation even if it s just a small group of people in a local area. People s attitudes can help or hurt your cause, so it s important to be aware of any strong prevailing attitudes about your issue. For example, someone determined to improve public transportation in a city where most people drive their own cars might face an uphill battle. That doesn t necessarily mean opposition. It could just mean lack of interest, which translates into lack of support, which can mean not much progress being made on that issue. But if that s the case with your issue, don t give up just yet: Sometimes, all it takes is someone to call people s attention to the issue and get them interested. That person can be you. Let s not be naive. With most issues, money is part of the context. Maybe it s because the cost of solving the issue is astronomical. Maybe it s because key players stand to lose or gain money depending on how the issue is handled. Never let the fear of money and its influence stop you from working for what you believe is right just pay attention to where dollars and cents might factor in. Unique Factors w i t h HONEY Attitudes can be rooted in longstanding traditions, tastes, habits, or ideas about how life should be. (Just ask anyone who s tried to get their family to go vegetarian.) It s human nature to resist change, so if you re taking on an issue that asks people to change their behavior, be prepared to win them over. Fighting or arguing probably won t work. Political Climate There s no escaping politics, and your issue might be standing right in its path. Not every issue is political, but many are. The politics in your local area or in the nation as a whole can affect how much traction your issue gets. Just like money, don t let politics stop you. Instead, use your understanding of the political climate to help you strategize. Finally, there are always circumstances that give an issue its own unique context. These could be related to just about anything geography, weather, people s personalities, particular industries involved, the sensitive nature of the issue, a freak swarm of insects... You ll only know by learning about the situation. Reading Side B

4 Context Clues. Examining your issue s context gives you insight that can help you figure out the best way to promote the change you d like to see and predict which approaches aren t likely to be successful. In these practice activities, you ll work with Sara s issue as an example. Sara lives in a rural community where a lot of people have horses. She knows of several homes where the horses are suffering badly from neglect. Animal control could intervene, but there aren t any horse rescue facilities nearby. Sara can t stand watching these horses suffer. SARA S CONTEXT LIST Attitudes There are lots of horse lovers in the community. Most horse owners believe abuse is unacceptable. Having a horse is seen as a status symbol in this community. Some people believe how others treat their animals is nobody else s business. Money A lot of people in the community don t have a lot of extra money. It costs a lot of money to care for a horse properly. Laws & Regs The state makes it a crime to inflict physical injury, subject an animal to cruel neglect/abandonment, or fail to provide medical care to prevent drawn-out suffering. County zoning laws allow 2 horses per acre. Policy Local law enforcement doesn t have enough resources to enforce abuse laws, so they only respond to the most severe cases. Politics People and politicians are focused on basic issues like jobs and health care. Animal welfare is nonpartisan but can sometimes be considered a liberal issue. A. Analyze the Context. When you look at the entire context of an issue, you ll notice some circumstances seem more susceptible to change than others. It s important to have a sense of where to focus your effort and what circumstances you ll just have to work around. Decide whether each of these factors from Sara s list seem more or less susceptible to change. Mark the scales and explain. 1. Law enforcement doesn t have enough resources to enforce animal abuse laws. Root Causes People get horses without realizing the obligation 3. It costs a lot of money to care for a horse or knowing how to care for them properly. properly. People stop wanting their horse because of financial hardship or because the horse is sick or injured. Horses are big and require lots of space, so horse shelters are harder to set up than dog/cat shelters. Unique Factors Most properties in the area between 2 and 5 acres. Most locals who want horses already have them icivics, Inc. Practice Side A 2. People get horses without realizing the obligation or knowing how to care for them.

5 B. Look for Relationships. Factors in one category can often be related to factors in another category. Find three sets of related factors in Sara s list, where each set includes factors from two or more categories. For each set, explain how the factors could affect each other. (It s ok to summarize the factors; you don t have to write them word for word.) SET 1 SET 2 SET 3 B. Work Around Obstacles. Sometimes there are big obstacles standing in the way of complete success on an issue, but that doesn t mean you can t still move the needle. Based on your analysis of Sara s list, what seems like the biggest obstacle to success on this issue? Why? Think of three ways Sara could still move the needle despite this obstacle: 1) 2) 3) 2017 icivics, Inc. Practice Side B

6 C o n t e x t Web Use the information you ve gathered about your issue to list as many factors as you can that contribute to the context of your issue. Write the factors on this web. Laws & Regs Policies Politics Root Causes Money Attitudes Unique Factors 2017 icivics, Inc. Context Web

7 C o n t e x t Analy s i s Templat e Find sets of related factors on your Context Web, where each set includes factors from two or more categories. For each set, explain how the factors could affect each other. SET 1 SET 2 SET 3 SET icivics, Inc. Context Analysis Side A

8 C o n t e x t Analy s i s Templat e p.2 Susceptibility to Change. List 7 factors from your Context Web next to the scale where you think they most belong. For each one, explain your susceptibility rating. Work Around Obstacles. Based on your analysis of your Context Web, what seems like the biggest obstacle to success on your issue? Why? Now, think of three ways you could still move the needle despite this obstacle: icivics, Inc. Context Analysis Side B Problem Solution

9 Context Clues. Examining your issue s context gives you insight that can help you figure out the best way to promote the change you d like to see and predict which approaches aren t likely to be successful. In these practice activities, you ll work with Sara s issue as an example. Sara lives in a rural community where a lot of people have horses. She knows of several homes where the horses are suffering badly from neglect. Animal control could intervene, but there aren t any horse rescue facilities nearby. Sara can t stand watching these horses suffer. SARA S CONTEXT LIST Attitudes There are lots of horse lovers in the community. Most horse owners believe abuse is unacceptable. Having a horse is seen as a status symbol in this community. Some people believe how others treat their animals is nobody else s business. Money A lot of people in the community don t have a lot of extra money. It costs a lot of money to care for a horse properly. Laws & Regs The state makes it a crime to inflict physical injury, subject an animal to cruel neglect/abandonment, or fail to provide medical care to prevent drawn-out suffering. County zoning laws allow 2 horses per acre. Policy Local law enforcement doesn t have enough resources to enforce abuse laws, so they only respond to the most severe cases. Politics People and politicians are focused on basic issues like jobs and health care. Animal welfare is nonpartisan but can sometimes be considered a liberal issue. A. Analyze the Context. When you look at the entire context of an issue, you ll notice some circumstances seem more susceptible to change than others. It s important to have a sense of where to focus your effort and what circumstances you ll just have to work around. Decide whether each of these factors from Sara s list seem more or less susceptible to change. Mark the scales and explain. 1. Law enforcement doesn t have enough resources to enforce animal abuse laws. Root Causes People get horses without realizing the obligation 3. It costs a lot of money to care for a horse or knowing how to care for them properly. properly. People stop wanting their horse because of financial hardship or because the horse is sick or injured. Horses are big and require lots of space, so horse shelters are harder to set up than dog/cat shelters. Unique Factors Most properties in the area between 2 and 5 acres. This is less susceptible; people can t really Most locals who want horses already have them. influence the cost and requirements of this icivics, Inc. Practice Side A Answers may vary widely; discuss students responses for this question. 2. People get horses without realizing the obligation or knowing how to care for them. ** TEACHER GUIDE ** This may be more susceptible because people can be educated.

10 ** TEACHER GUIDE ** B. Look for Relationships. Factors in one category can often be related to factors in another category. Find three sets of related factors in Sara s list, where each set includes factors from two or more categories. For each set, explain how the factors could affect each other. (It s ok to summarize the factors; you don t have to write them word for word.) SET 1 There are lots of answers for these! Accept anything reasonable. A lot of people in the community don t have a lot of extra money. People stop wanting their horse because of financial hardship or because the horse is sick or injured. The financial situation of people in the community could be contributing to horses being neglected if something happens to the horse that the owner can t afford to address. SET 2 Having a horse is seen as a status symbol in this community. People get horses without realizing the obligation or knowing how to care for them properly. People who otherwise might not want a horse could be getting one because it s a status symbol, and those people would be less likely to understand the responsibilities of caring for horses. SET 3 It costs a lot of money to care for a horse properly. People and politicians are focused on basic issues like jobs and health care. The cost of caring for horses could mean that creating horse shelters isn t something that local government would prioritize, especially when it would be competing for funds with issues like health care or job creation. B. Work Around Obstacles. Sometimes there are big obstacles standing in the way of complete success on an issue, but that doesn t mean you can t still move the needle. Based on your analysis of Sara s list, what seems like the biggest obstacle to success on this issue? Why? _ Answers to this question will vary widely. Accept all reasonable answers. _ Think of three ways Sara could still move the needle despite this obstacle: 1) 2) 3) 2017 icivics, Inc. Practice Side B