CIVICS

Grade -08 Democratic Society Unit 02

Expected competencies:
 Democratic way of life
 Rights and the duties of a child
 Managing emotions positively
 Leadership and leadership qualities
 Behave as a followers in society, family and the school

 “Democracy” is a form of administration as well as a way of living.

 Democracy can be identified as a system of government as well as a way of living.
 A democratic society is a self-disciplinary and consensual society in which people act in cooperation
with one another based on freedom and equality and being respectful to the opinions of the majority.
 Family and school are the main places where the democratic features found.
Family
 Family is the smallest, basic and important unit in a society.
 Family can be classified into two: the nuclear family and the extended family.
 At present, we can see plenty of nuclear families.
 Democratic features that can be seen in the family.
o Receive protection and love
o Decision followed by discussions
o Solving problems peacefully
o Work cooperatively in house-hold chores
o Securing equality
o Enjoying the right while fulfilling duties
o Respecting the leadership
o Being patient to others' opinions and listening to them

 Democratic qualities that can be learnt by being a member of the family

o Recognition of leadership qualities
o Listening to others and respecting their ideas
o Work in collectively

 The characteristics that determine the well-being of both children and the society.
o Affection o Love
o Kindness o Compassion
o Protection o Nutrition

 The two main occasion when taking decisions after discussions.

o At general occasions
o At special occasions
 Take decisions in general occasions of the family.
o Selection and preparation of meals
o Performing household chores collectively
o Keeping house clean
o Entertainment and enjoying leisure
o Planning educational activities
© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 1 Civic Education
  Take decisions in special occasions of the family.
o Organization of various functions
o Purchase of a land/house
o Construction, carrying out alterations, repairing of a house
o Purchasing a vehicle
o Decisions on marriages

 Some of the responsibilities of the children while enjoying freedom.

o Treating parents and elders as leaders
o Seeking their advice and guidance
o Helping the family affairs
o Working collectively

School

 The school is the closest institution to the child next to his home.
 Every child gets the opportunity of improving his or her skills and capabilities by making use of the
freedom, resources and opportunities available in the school.

The features of a school

o A child leads a life as a student from childhood

o Every child gets the opportunity of improving skills and capabilities in the school.
o School enable the student to achieve objectives of life successfully.
o The school also provides security and opportunities to develop various competencies
o Disciplinary rules within the school are common to all
o The school also provides the children the opportunity to engage in co-curricular as well as
extracurricular activities

 Some co-curricular activities practiced in school

o Holding various associations. Ex: Literary Associations
o Organizing various festivals. Ex: Cultural festivals
o Assigning various duties prefects. Ex: Prefects
o Organizing and holding competitions. Ex: Essay writing
o Giving training and experience. Ex: First –aid services
o Organizing educational trips, field trips.

 Democratic features that can be seen in school

o Taking correct decisions through discussion
o Being inquisitive and compromise on will of the majority
o Respecting the leadership
o Working in collaboration
o Receiving education and other facilities equally.
o Accepting and protecting the honor of the school
o Holding positions in societies, expressing ideas and voting
o Accepting both victory and defect indifferently.
o Resolving the problems peacefully

© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 2 Civic Education

 Rights and obligations of children:
Child Rights
 Rights are the moral or legal entitlement to have or do something.
உரிமைகள் என்பது ஏதாவது ஒன்மைச் சசய் ய அல் லது சகாண்டிருப்பதை் கான தார்மீக அல் லது சட்டபூர்வைான
உரிமை.
 According to the United Nations Convention on Child Rights, every human being below eighteen years
is considered as a child.
 Every religious leader has pointed out the importance of children.
 The rights entitled to all children irrespective of their gender are recognized as Child rights.
 These rights are listed under four themes.
o Right to protection
o Right to participation
o Right to development
o Right to exist
 The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) functions as an organization
established to protect child rights. ( https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/convention-text )
 United Nations Convention on Child Rights consists of a preamble and 54 Articles.
 Every member of the country in United Nations is bound to protect and follow it.
 Rights and obligations are interconnected.

Obligations of a child
 An obligation is a course of action that someone is required to take, whether legal or moral.
 கடமை என்பது சட்டபூர்வைானதாகவவா அல் லது தார்மீகைாகவவா யாராவது எடுக்க வவண்டிய ஒரு நடவடிக்மக

Rights of a child Duties/Obligations of a child

Right to education
Right to health facilities
Right to the benefits of social security
Right for freedom to hold a religious belief
Right to freedom of expression
Right to maintain friendly relationships
Right to participate in activities of societies
and associations
Right to proper care
 Engaging in educational activities well
 Respecting parents and teachers
 Protecting discipline, rules and regulations and traditions of
the school
 To be aware of personal hygiene
 Following good health habits
 Raising awareness among other people on good health
habits
 Contribution to social security
 Raising awareness among other people about social
security
 Religious well-being
 Respecting the religious beliefs of other people
 Expressing truth
 Expressing ideas that do not harm others
 Selection of friends wisely
 Selection of friends to suit your age
 Refraining from stealing, cheating and harmful deeds
 Developing one’s capabilities.
 Contribution to social progress
 Respecting and obey parents and elders
 Supporting them whenever possible

© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 3 Civic Education

  Various problems children face in the present society.
o Getting them involving in various abusive activities
o Harassment
o Sexual abuse
o Child labour

 The reasons which cause the loss of equal opportunities for children.
o Death of parents
o Separation of parents
o Parents going aboard
o Imprisonment of parents
o Drug addition
o Alcohol addition of one or both parents
o Less attention to their children
o Poverty

 Institutions that safeguard child rights.

o National Child Protection Authority
o Department of Probation and Child Care Services
o Children and Women Bureau, Sri Lanka Police
 International organization established to safeguard child rights. (https://www.globalchildforum.org/)
1. Childhood
2. Unicef
3. Ecpat international
4. Plan international
5. Save the children
6. SOS children’s villages

 Government officers providing services to children (in Divisional Secretariat)

o Child Rights Promotion Officer
o Regional Child Protection Officer
o Early Childhood Development Officer
o Counselling Officer of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs
o Social Services Officer
o Women Development Officer
o Informal and Formal Education Officer

Various emotions
 Emotion refers to a feeling state involving thoughts,
physiological changes, and an outward expression or behavior.
 Good emotions are delightful for oneself as well as for the
society. However, if unfavourable emotions will cause harm
not only to you but to the society also.

Harmful effect of unfavourable emotions

 A person is subjected to physical, mental and social
deterioration.
 Tend to scold others, assault them, destroy property and even
cause harm to lives.

© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 4 Civic Education

  Reactions inside the body such as high blood pressure and secretion of hormones take place.
 physical illnesses, mental illnesses, creating various conflicts, imprisonment, addiction to drugs, suicide

Emotions and Physical reactions

 Happiness: laughing, dancing, cheering, shedding happy tears, shouting, jumping.
 Sorrow: crying, sighing, wailing, withered face, beating the chest, redness of eyes, perspiring
 Anger: scolding, assaulting, trembling of limbs, tongue twisting, gnashing, observing silence
 Fear: trembling, screaming, widening of eyes, running, and inability to speak, stammering.
Measures that can be taken to neutralize unfavourable emotions.

 Exercises to calm the mind

• Meditation
• Growing plants
• Enjoying the environment
• Engage in religious activities
• Keeping pets

 Association of friends
• Discussion
• Mutual support
• Engaging in various activities
• Picnics

 Changing personal and environmental conditions causing unfavourable emotions

• Keeping home and office clean in an orderly manner
• Minimizing inequalities and differences
• Keeping the environment beautifully
• Acting cordially and collaboratively
• Working according to a timetable

 Involvement in creative activities

• Composing poems and songs, writing books
• Performing dramas
• Engaging in aesthetic activities
• Landscaping
• Singing songs, dancing, painting
• Watching dramas and films

 Engaging in sports and physical exercises

• Engaging in an indoor or an outdoor sport or game
• Walking
• Engaging in physical exercises
• Swimming

 Strategies to managing emotions positively

• Pre-arrangement
• Working according to a timetable
• Getting others' support and advice
• Listening
• Following rules, regulations, customs and traditions
• Developing self-confidence etc. can be used.
© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 5 Civic Education
 Benefit of being control emotions.

 Become a person who does not become a victim of emotions and who is having a balanced personality.
 Automatically generate in you features like easy going characteristics, smiling and pleasant features and
attractive discourse.
 Become a person who does not hurt others' feelings.
 Act cooperatively and peacefully.
 Become subjected to the trust and the respect of others.

Leadership
 Leadership is the process through which people are directed and persuaded to achieve a clear objective.
தமலமைத்துவை் என்பது ஒரு சதளிவான குறிக்வகாமள அமடய ைக்கமள ஈடுபடுத்தி வழிநடத்துை் ;
சசயல் முமையாகுை் .
 Leadership is the ability to persuade others, make them dedicated and encourage them to achieve the
objectives of an institution or of an organization.
 Leadership is not a methodology or a technological skill. It is the matter of opening up of the heart.
Through this, not only you but others too can be stimulated.
 “Great Leadership” is not a methodology to follow. It is a humanistic experience that generates in the
heart and bonds with the hearts of others.

Leader and follower

o The leader is the person who directs the team.

o The follower acts under the direction of the leadership.
o The follower should be ready to act in a trustworthy
manner when the leader directs the team with
confidence.
o It is the duty of the follower to support the leader to
reach correct objectives without expecting any benefits.
o Dedication and enthusiasm is advantageous for a
follower to become a great leader.
o The Leader and the follower are mutually bound
together by responsibilities.
Occasions where leadership can be seen in the society

o Within the family - parents, adult children

o In school - principal, vice principal, class teacher, prefects,
o In the society - religious leaders, community leaders, political leaders.
Qualities of a leader (Leadership qualities)

Communication skill : Presentation, explanation, speech, build up the process, listening, firmness
Problem solving skill : Understanding the problem, collecting information, analysing, finding solutions,
implementing
Organizational skill : Deciding the objective, planning, organizing, decision making
Manipulative skill deciding the target, organizing teams, controlling, reaching the
targets
Human relationships : Sociability, attraction, ability to keep inter-relationships, maintaining relationships
Affectivity : Friendliness, affability, sensibility, cheerfulness

© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 6 Civic Education

 Various leadership styles in the society

Autocratic leadership style

- Non acceptance of public opinion
- Refusal to change
- Act very strictly
- Take unshakable decisions unanimously
- Threatening, intimidation
- Obstruct to develop capabilities

Corrupted leadership style

- Malversation of public property
- Engaging in fraud, corruption and theft
- Display of wrong precedents
- Disregard for law, rules, regulations, customs and traditions
- Inclination towards privacy
Nominal leadership style
- Not working for upliftment of the society
- Not having the good leadership qualities
- Not having clear targets and expectations
- Not doing any changes
- Desire to be salient in society
Democratic leadership style
- Accepting and respecting the public opinions
- Maintaining close relationship with the public
- Encouraging the public and cheer them up
- Listening and solving the conflicts
- Giving opportunities to develop the abilities of the public
- Appreciating and approving of freedom and equality

 Why does society need leaders?

o To develop organizations, institutions and a state with a correct vision
o To set goals and direct towards achieving the goals
o To plan properly
o To face challenges and objections
o To overcome challenges and objections democratically
o To have followers attached
o To encourage followers
o To distribute and utilize resources properly
o To resolve and minimize conflicts

 The countries where democratic governments exist.

 The system of selecting political leaders in their countries is based on general elections.
o United States of America
o France
o Great Britain
o Swaziland
o India
o Sri Lanka
© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 7 Civic Education
  Qualities of a democratic leader
Humanity (ைனிதவநயை் ) Confidence (நை் பிக்மக)

Honesty Assertiveness (உறுதிப்பாடு)

Dedication (அர்ப்பணிப்பு) Heeding/listening (கவனித்தல் )
Equality (சைத்துவை் ) Impartiality (பக்கச்சார்பை் ை தன்மை)

Friendliness Sociality
Creativity (பமடப்பாை் ைல் ) Prudentiality (விவவகை் )
Ability to take correct decisions Helping others

 Situations in which leadership and fellowships are visible in the society

Situations Leader Follower
o Family Father - other members of the family
o School Principal - staff, students
o Religious places Chief Incumbent of the temple - other monks/lay devotees
o Parliament Member of Parliament - voters
o Country President - citizens of the country

Democratic way of living

 The main reason for conflicts and disagreements prevailing in the contemporary society is the
competition and mistrust prevalent among them.
 The features that can be seen in a democratic way of living.
o Respect for the accepted customs and traditions
o Follow laws, rules and regulations
o Act with equality and coexistence

 Qualities relevant to the democratic way of living.

o Respecting the view of the others o Respecting equality
o Acting cooperatively o Acting with transparency
o Arriving at decisions through discussion o Respecting the rights of the others
o Acting with self-discipline o Tolerating the views of others
 How the democratic way of living contributes to the well-being of the society.
 Improvement of harmony in the society
- Relationships develop when every community group is respected and treated equally.
- People are satisfied as their needs and requirements are fulfilled as expected.
- Contribution and representation in every activity is entitled.

 Establishment of a society with minimum conflicts

- Respect the will of the majority
- Providing opportunities for minority representation
- Respecting all communities and their culture

 Creation of a law abiding society

- Citizens being law abiding
- Acting in a just and peaceful manner
- Recognition and respect of one another

 Protection of the rights of all

- Accepts rights
- Fulfills obligations
- Appreciates freedom
© T.Rubaseelan (Grade – 8) 8 Civic Education