Norms and Values

Social Norms Expectations for behavior that members of a group are expected to follow Some people may be unaware of them or not agree with them They can regulate behavior and act as informal social controls Vary from place to place and change over time Laws can reflect norms or can contribute to the creation or maintenance of social norms Ex.: Sneezing without covering your mouth

What are some norms at school: Have any of the norms you thought about been codified in the school handbook? Do you have rules that apply only in specific classrooms? Are there any norms that you think should be made into school rules? Are there any school rules that you think should be treated as norms (for example, a school rule against wearing a hat inside or chewing gum)?

Written rules are an attempt to be clear about specifically forbidden or specifically required behavior in a group or society (Things people “must do” and “must not do”).

Values You can learn about a group’s values by finding out what rules the group has and how those rules are enforced. A value can be a principle or quality considered worthwhile or desirable They can often be in conflict, sometimes within the same family or institution

Think About It!!!! Do our school rules achieve a good balance between protecting individual rights of students and teachers and promoting the well-being of the school community? Why or why not?

The notion of social contract implies that people give up sovereignty to a government or other authority in order to maintain social and political order

Think about it: In what ways do the current rules in our school give you power? In what ways do the current rules in our school take power away from you? How do you define power? Overall, do you as students believe that your voices are heard? That your opinions count in your school community? Have you ever been active or involved in school policy at your school or in your community? How might playing a role in your school’s legal structure prepare you for a law-related career? Do you think pursuing a career in the legal and criminal justice systems will enable you to have more power to influence how rules and laws are created and enforced?