How do role models shape moral frameworks in a democratic society?

Suitable for 14 to 19-year-olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom or shared with students online.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 politics, philosophy and sociology.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of political theorist Nicholas Poole, at York University in Canada, who is exploring how role models influence our sense of right and wrong. His research focuses on how these people shape our values and help build a shared moral framework amidst cultural diversity.
• This resource also contains an interview with Nicholas, providing an insight into careers in political theory.
• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on Nicholas’s research, and tasks them to explore ‘inspiring equals’.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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