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Chapter 3: How do we decide what is good for society?
What do you understand by the concept of good?
How do you know what is good for society?
Lesson Objectives:
1.Students will be able to explain and apply their understanding of the challenges in deciding what is good for society through real-world examples and discussions.
2. Students will be able to explain the following concepts
a. Differing needs and interests
b.Differing priorities
c.Unequal sharing of costs
Activate Learning
I. Sparking curiosity. (Class discussion)
Study the above two quotes from our PM Lawrence Wong.
Based on the quotations, what can you infer about what is good for Singapore?
Share your opinion with your classmate in class.
Key Challenges:
Ref to textbook page 64 and highlight the three challenges involved in deciding what is good for society.
Differing Needs and Interests:
Young couples want more affordable flats in prime locations.
Seniors may want to downsize or sell at high prices.
Singles feel left out of certain housing grants.
Differing Priorities:
Government prioritizes long-term sustainability and affordability.
Individuals prioritize personal financial benefits or convenience.
Unequal Sharing of Costs:
Higher-income earners might feel they pay more through taxes.
Middle-income groups may not qualify for as many grants as lower-income groups.
1. Activate Learning
II. Gathering Information (Group work)
Case Study: The Debate on Public Housing in Singapore
Singapore's public housing policy aims to provide affordable homes to citizens.
However, different policies (e.g., priority for married couples, promoting harmony, and cooling measures) create challenges in deciding what is good for all.
Here is a series of resources about Singapore’s public housing policies.
Working in groups of 3 and 4 highlights different stakeholders and their concerns.
Stakerholders include
A young couple who want to marry and start a family
A senior who wants to downgrade
Single people who do not want to stay with their parents
Here are the resources
Textual sources
Video Sources
Highlight their concern in the Padlet here.
2. Promote Thinking and Discussion
2. Promote Thinking and Discussion
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
- What are the key concerns of different stakeholders in Singapore’s public housing system?
- Can a single policy satisfy all groups? Why or why not?
- How does the government try to balance different needs?
- Do you think the system is fair? Why or why not?
Choose one of the above questions to discuss with your group. (15 minutes)
Present your reflection/response to the whole class.
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