Ukraine 8 клас Civic Education
Chapters: 5
1. Identity and values of Ukrainian citizens
Identity and values
- Personal Identity: Who Am I? – Personal identity asks what makes you the person you are, and what keeps you the same person over time. We can see the self in layers: body, social roles, character and values, and the inner "I" that thinks and chooses. The ship of Theseus puzzle shows that things can change part by part, so sameness is not obvious. The body view says you are your living body; the memory or psychological view (Locke) says you are linked to your past by memories and character; religious views speak of a lasting soul (ātman, soul) that gives every human dignity; Hume and Buddhist thought see the self as a changing stream with no fixed core. Self-knowledge ("know thyself") helps us grow, and moral autonomy (Kant) means acting on rules we have reasoned out ourselves rather than on pressure alone. Teenage years are a key time for building identity (Erikson).
2. Ukraine as a democratic state
Rights, duties and democracy
- Democracy – Democracy is rule by the people. People choose their rulers in free and fair elections, each adult has one vote of equal value, and the government must follow the law and respect rights. Democracy can be direct or representative. India has old democratic roots and today uses a parliamentary system, while the USA uses a presidential system. Poverty, illiteracy, corruption and inequality are its main challenges.
- Outcomes of Democracy – Democracy is judged by what it delivers. It gives an accountable, responsive and legitimate government, and it is best at protecting dignity and freedom. On economic growth it is about as good as dictatorship. It has not done enough to cut inequality and poverty. It handles social differences well when majority and minority keep changing.
3. Social activity of citizens
Diversity and social initiative
- Civic Participation: Taking Part in Your School and Community – Civic participation means citizens, including young people, taking part in the life of their community and country: getting informed, giving their view, voting, volunteering, joining associations, signing petitions and leading projects. In a democracy power comes from the people, so participation keeps it alive. School is the first place to practise it: a student council (student self-government) is elected by all students, meets, discusses and votes on proposals, and speaks with teachers and the local community. Good participation respects everyone's rights, includes people who are different (diversity, inclusion, no discrimination) and works with solidarity and cooperation. A social project follows clear steps: choose a real community problem, plan, act, and present the results. Remembering past struggles for rights (democratic memory) reminds us why these freedoms matter.
4. Information in a democratic state
Media and information
- Media Literacy – Media literacy is the skill of reading, questioning and creating media: news, ads, videos, posts, films and games. Every media text is made by someone, for a purpose, for an audience, using forms, conventions and techniques that shape how we feel. A media-literate person checks the source, evidence, other coverage and the original before believing or sharing, notices bias and filter bubbles, and makes their own media responsibly.
5. Final student social project
Class social project
- Civic Participation: Taking Part in Your School and Community – Civic participation means citizens, including young people, taking part in the life of their community and country: getting informed, giving their view, voting, volunteering, joining associations, signing petitions and leading projects. In a democracy power comes from the people, so participation keeps it alive. School is the first place to practise it: a student council (student self-government) is elected by all students, meets, discusses and votes on proposals, and speaks with teachers and the local community. Good participation respects everyone's rights, includes people who are different (diversity, inclusion, no discrimination) and works with solidarity and cooperation. A social project follows clear steps: choose a real community problem, plan, act, and present the results. Remembering past struggles for rights (democratic memory) reminds us why these freedoms matter.