09 Is Majority Rule Always Right?
/09 Is Majority Rule Always Right?
*David enjoyed spending time with his classmates at school.
/*David enjoyed spending time with his classmates at school.
One day, the class had a discussion about how to decide the cleaning duty.
/One day, the class had a discussion about how to decide the cleaning duty.
The teacher suggested, “Let’s all share our ideas and find a good method together.”
/The teacher suggested, “Let’s all share our ideas and find a good method together.”
In *David’s class, there were 20 boys and 10 girls.
/In *David’s class, there were 20 boys and 10 girls.
During the discussion, someone said, “Since boys have game and playtime, girls should do the cleaning.”
/During the discussion, someone said, “Since boys have game and playtime, girls should do the cleaning.”
Then, a vote was held.
/Then, a vote was held.
Of course, the boys agreed with the idea, and the girls opposed it.
/Of course, the boys agreed with the idea, and the girls opposed it.
But since the boys had more votes, the idea was accepted.
/But since the boys had more votes, the idea was accepted.
During lunch break that day, *David saw the girls cleaning and felt something was wrong.
/During lunch break that day, *David saw the girls cleaning and felt something was wrong.
“Is this really fair? Isn’t it strange that only girls are cleaning?” he thought.
/“Is this really fair? Isn’t it strange that only girls are cleaning?” he thought.
After school, he spoke to his friend *Linda.
/After school, he spoke to his friend *Linda.
“*Linda, today must have felt frustrating, right?”
/“*Linda, today must have felt frustrating, right?”
*Linda looked a little surprised and replied, “Of course it was frustrating. But with fewer people, we can’t win. It’s majority rule, so I thought it couldn’t be helped.”
/*Linda looked a little surprised and replied, “Of course it was frustrating. But with fewer people, we can’t win. It’s majority rule, so I thought it couldn’t be helped.”
When *David got home, he asked his father, “Is majority rule always the right way?”
/When *David got home, he asked his father, “Is majority rule always the right way?”
His father listened and said, “*David, majority rule is an important method, but it doesn’t solve every problem.”
/His father listened and said, “*David, majority rule is an important method, but it doesn’t solve every problem.”
“That’s why we have constitutions and laws.”
/“That’s why we have constitutions and laws.”
“The constitution promises to protect rules so that everyone is equal and respected.”
/“The constitution promises to protect rules so that everyone is equal and respected.”
“For example, it checks whether the rights of minorities are being ignored.”
/“For example, it checks whether the rights of minorities are being ignored.”
“Even if the majority agrees, ideas or bills can be stopped.”
/“Even if the majority agrees, ideas or bills can be stopped.”
The next day, *David spoke to his teacher.
/The next day, *David spoke to his teacher.
“Teacher, I don’t think it’s fair that only girls do the cleaning. Shouldn’t boys and girls share the responsibility equally?”
/“Teacher, I don’t think it’s fair that only girls do the cleaning. Shouldn’t boys and girls share the responsibility equally?”
The teacher was impressed by *David’s courage and decided to hold another class discussion.
/The teacher was impressed by *David’s courage and decided to hold another class discussion.
As a result of the discussion, a new rule was made: “Cleaning duty will be shared equally between boys and girls.”
/As a result of the discussion, a new rule was made: “Cleaning duty will be shared equally between boys and girls.”
When the rule was made, *Linda said to *David, “Thank you, *David. It’s so important that everyone is treated fairly.”
/When the rule was made, *Linda said to *David, “Thank you, *David. It’s so important that everyone is treated fairly.”
After school, *David held a broom with a smile. “Talking things through together and caring about others is important.”
/After school, *David held a broom with a smile. “Talking things through together and caring about others is important.”
“I want to keep thinking together like this from now on,” *David decided in his heart.
/“I want to keep thinking together like this from now on,” *David decided in his heart.
Review Questions
/Review Questions
Why did *David feel something was wrong with the result of the majority vote?
/Why did *David feel something was wrong with the result of the majority vote?
a. Because he thought it was unfair that only girls had to do the cleaning
/a. Because he thought it was unfair that only girls had to do the cleaning
b. Because he thought boys would enjoy cleaning more
/b. Because he thought boys would enjoy cleaning more
c. Because there were more girls than boys
/c. Because there were more girls than boys
What was the new rule that *David proposed?
/What was the new rule that *David proposed?
a. Boys and girls should share the cleaning duty equally
/a. Boys and girls should share the cleaning duty equally
b. Cancel the cleaning duty
/b. Cancel the cleaning duty
c. Decide cleaning duty by lottery every week
/c. Decide cleaning duty by lottery every week
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *David felt when he realized that “majority rule doesn’t always lead to fair results”?
/How do you think *David felt when he realized that “majority rule doesn’t always lead to fair results”?
Also, what can you do to protect fairness?
/Also, what can you do to protect fairness?
Think about how constitutions and laws help protect the opinions of smaller groups, and discuss how you can use that to solve problems around you.
/Think about how constitutions and laws help protect the opinions of smaller groups, and discuss how you can use that to solve problems around you.
