Concept Formation:Advancement or Oppression

Advancement?

• Jonas Salk develops the polio vaccine in the 1950s, but a small minority of people get infected with the disease anyway.

• New York Giants win the Super Bowl in 2012.

• Johnny received a grade of 87% on his first test. He decided to study a little more for the second test and received a grade of 87%.

• At the time of its completion, the Empire State Building in NYC was the tallest building in the world.

• New SMART Boards are purchased for each classroom in the school, but funding is cut for music and art programs.

• The district buys IPad tablets for every student in the school, but forces students to buy the textbook and other classroom apps.

Oppression?

• As the head of the Communist Party in China from 1949-1976, Mao Zedong used violence and terror to redistribute land among the people.

• Mr. McLaughlin gives a pop-quiz tomorrow and does not let you use your notes.

• The police officer puts the criminal in handcuffs.

• Mr. Krabs forced Spongebob and Squidward to work the graveyard shift for no extra pay, but Spongebob was excited to work for the Krusty Krab “at night” anyway.

• Despite Squidwards best efforts to run an organized strike against the Krusty Krab, Spongbob gets carried away and ends up destroying the restaurant.

• The district institutes a new dress code policy forcing everyone to wear school uniforms.

• The price of the school dance is raised to $7 (roughly the cost of a Chipotle burrito).

Advancement or Oppression?

• Lance Armstrong wins a record 7 Tour de France cycling awards, but tests positive for “doping,” or using banned drugs.

• Oskar Schindler was an active member of the Nazi Party in Germany, but he saved the lives of every Jewish employee working in his factory.

• There is an incredible break-through in cancer research that helps save thousands of lives, but scientists illegally tested the medicine on animals before administering it to humans.

Definition: Advancement

• progression to a higher stage of development • improvement

Definition: Oppression

• Unjust, excessive, or cruel use of power or authority

• What does the phrase “gray area” mean?

• In what ways is there a “gray area” between the concepts of advancement and oppression?

• What will we have to do when apply the concepts of advancement and oppression to Ancient Egypt?