How to Change Your World
Agents of Change in a World of Conformists
(Part 2 of "Getting Along With Authorities")

Purpose: By the end of this session, I want my students to understand how to be agents of change, while respecting and remaining loyal to authority.

Related Resources: See the Overhead Sheet and Student Handout.

Supplies: See suggestion box at the Conclusion. Perhaps use a clip from "The Matrix." Perhaps bring candy in blue wraps and red wraps for each student. 

Hint: Think through any times that you've changed the system, either at school, another job, or even with your parents. What worked? What didn't? Do you know people who've  effectively changed systems for the better? How did they do it? Adding personal illustrations makes messages more appealing to students.

He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice. (Albert Einstein)

In general, we need to concentrate on respecting and obeying our authorities. But what should be our response when our authorities ask us to do things that we know are wrong? And what about when our school or family is failing, and we think our ideas can help? That's what this lesson's all about.

Idea: Consider bringing a picture book edition of "The King's New Clothes" to read to the students. Afterwards, have students discuss how this applies to today's world. (Our leaders are often on the wrong track. Somebody needs to have the boldness to point out the obvious ["The king is naked!"] and try to make positive change in social injustice, etc.)

Think Tank: Let’s start out by dividing into small groups and discussing how you would deal with the following real life situations. Remember, your goal is NOT to "speak your mind" or "give them what they deserve." Your goal is to see positive change. (Choose a couple of situations that seem most relevant to your students.)

What Would You Do?

1. Your employer asks you to not report some profits to the government, so that he'll pay less taxes. 

2.  An English teacher mocks the schools' administration, bragging about how she changes standardized tests to make her record look better. 

3. Your Math teacher gets slammed by the principal for giving too many high grades. In your opinion, she is simply a great teacher who inspires her students to learn. 

4. The school administration seems to unfairly support one group of students and another group gets in trouble for nothing at all. 

5. Your parents show favoritism to another sibling. 

Class Discussion: After they've discussed in small groups, read aloud each situation, getting input from the class on what they think they should do. It's okay if students disagree with you and each other! These are sticky issues!

Principles of Change

Class Discussion: Keep your solutions in mind and let's try to come up with some general principles of changing our world. Think of it this way: if you need to be confronted about something, who would be the most likely to get through to you? (A person who cares. A person you respect.) How would you like them to go about it? (Look to the following to fill in what they miss.)

1 - Build a Foundation of Trust with Caring and Respect.  

Even if you don't like a parent or teacher or boss, be nice. Remember birthdays. Compliment them for things they do right. Then you're better positioned to suggest changes. 

Illustration: How many of you have bank accounts? Can you make withdrawals if you don't first make deposits? Of course not! Well, relationships are the same way. It's like each person has a love bank inside that needs regular deposits. If you make enough deposits (compliments, etc.) they're more likely to take it well when you make withdrawals (give suggestions or reprimands.)

2 - Do an attitude check.  

Some of us get really excited about the idea of challenging oour authorities. Going counter culture or rebelling against norms comes easily to you. You'd relish standing before some authority and defiantly saying, “You're wrong, and I'm here to let you know about it." If that appeals to you, be careful. Simmer down and think about what the person you're confronting may be going through. Confrontation without compassion can breed contempt.

3 - Try to understand the reasoning and motivations of your authority.  

Take the situation we spoke of earlier, where the principal reprimanded a teacher for giving too many high grades. What motives might the principal have had for doing this? (He's desperate because he's been reprimanded by someone over him.)

4 - Search for workable compromise.   

Your parents want you to attend Iowa State. You want to wax surfboards in Hawaii. What's a possible compromise? (1 - Have a summer to chill in Hawaii before hitting the books again. 2 - Attend the University of Hawaii 3 - ?)

5 - When Possible, Discuss Personally Before Challenging Publicly    

Nobody likes to be confronted in front of their friends or associates.

6 -  Avoid Violence 

ILLUSTRATION: On January 17th, America celebrates Martin Luther King Day, honoring a man who stood against the unjust laws which put down blacks in America . During King’s day, many localities barred blacks from sitting in the same section with whites in busses. He could have used his forceful speeches to incite violence against the authorities who had subjugated his people. Instead, he awakened the public conscious by peaceful means, saved many lives that a violent revolution would have taken, and ultimately overturned the unjust laws.

7 - Get wise counsel.  

By running sticky situations through those we trust, we often discover solutions we'd have never thought up on our own. 

8 - Don't expect change overnight.  

Your talk my be just the first of many talks. Although people often first bristle after a confrontation, later they sometimes come around, often finding a way to make the change while saving face at the same time. Even if they change and act like it was their own idea, you still accomplished your purpose!

9 - Choose Your Battles Wisely

Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

I challenge you to do more than just drift through life, fitting in as a conformist. When systems fail, see if there's a way you can make a difference. 

ILLUSTRATION: In the movie The Matrix, a computer whiz named Neal (also called Neo), played by Keanu Reeves, found that there was more to this world than met the eye. He was brought before a man named Morpheous, who offered him two pills. He held out has hand and said, you can take the red pill or the blue pill. The red pill opens up your eyes to the truth and the other allows you to go back to your old life and just fit into the world as you see it.

Today I offer you two pills.

Take the The Blue Pill to become the ultimate Conformist. You just go home, try to forget everything that we said today, and go through life trying to balance pleasing everyone with getting all you can out of this life.  That’s the blue pill.  

I challenge you to take the red pill and become an agent of change. When you see a wrong, you ask if you can right it. When you see a need you try to meet it.

Don’t choose now. Put them in your pocket and think it over when you get home.

Copyright April, 2004 by Legacy Educational Resources. All Rights Reserved.