Meritocracy

Overview

Is America a Meritocracy? What is the American Dream? Is it achievable by all? Is the deck stacked against low-income families? Should America be a meritocracy? Should the rules be changed, how?

Agenda

  • Day 1-Jan 26

      • Introductions

        • Name-Why did you choose this IBG?

      • Big questions

      • Basics of Meritocracy

      • Our Mixed Economy

        • Research these topics in groups in the context of America as a meritocracy-

          • American Dream-Katie, Jake, Cody, Emma

          • Income Inequality-Lily, Cody, Gabe,

          • Taxes-

          • Colin, Andy Education-Lauren, Jaden, Eli, Keith

          • Race and Wealth

        • Unions

        • Income Mobility

          • Educational five minute presentation-include definitions, statistics, and ideologies. Use bullets, images, and multimedia.

        • East lab

  • Day 2-Feb 2

    • Basics of Meritocracy presentations

        • American Dream, Income Inequality, Taxes (income, capital gains, estate, sales, corporate) Education, Race and Wealth, Unions, Income Mobility. Educational five minute presentation-include definitions, statistics, and ideologies

  • Day 3-Feb 5

    • Debate Prep

      • Choose Roles (see below)

      • Research in West Lab

      • Congress sets rules at end of class

  • Day 4-Feb 9

    • Debate

        • Congress delivers ground rules and format (3 minutes)

      • Opening Statements (3 minutes each)

      • Open answer session to congress' questions (20 minutes)

      • Closing statements (2 minutes each)

      • Congress' decision (2 minutes)

Debate

    • Questions

      • Is America a Meritocracy? What is the American Dream? Is it achievable by all? Is the deck stacked against low-income families? Should America be a meritocracy? Should the rules be changed, how?

  • Roles

      • Congress-creates legislation informed by debate

    • Capitalists-believe the open market should decide winners and losers

    • Education Researchers-public school system enables individuals to achieve American Dream, but needs to be changed

    • Job Creators-Our current system provides plenty of opportunity for all

    • Taxes for a Fair Economy-our tax system rewards people with money

    • NAACP-our current system systematically punishes racial minorities

    • Sociologists of America-Income inequality and lack of inter-generational is evidence change is needed

    • Resources