The Caste System

Webquest for ninth graders in Global History

Designed by

Lucy E. Mekai

lmekai@aol.com

A high-caste Brahmin wedding A low-caste poverty-stricken street dweller.

‘The caste system has infringed on the rights of the people of India, particularly the Untouchables.”

Introduction

The Caste System is an important part of Hinduism. Castes are social groups into which people are born and out of which they cannot move during a lifetime. An Untouchable, a member of the lower caste is working in the household of a Brahmin, a member of the higher caste. The Untouchable has a daughter born at the same time that the Brahmin’s son was born. Both children grew up knowing each other and ended up falling in love. When they were in their twenties, they decided they wanted to get married, but it was impossible because the Brahmins and the Untouchables could never mix on that level. Both children are determined and would kill themselves if they are refused their hearts’ desires. How can society give them their liberty to find happiness?

Task

You will have to find out if the caste system is negative or positive in society. To be able to do that you will use the six step public-policy approach:

1. Define and describe the problems of the caste system as practiced in India(the social conditions, key players, public policy)
2. Gather evidence for the problems(statistics, case studies, surveys or articles by experts)
3. Identify the causes for the problems.
4. Describe and evaluate the existing policy in India for these problems.
5. Develop solutions/policies for the existing policies on caste problems
6. Select the best policy.

Process

The class will be divided into five groups.

Group1 will investigate the origin of the caste system.

Using the website at http.//school.discovery.com/schrockguide

Varna or caste system http://www.hindunet.org/

Group 2 will define and describe the problems of the caste system as practiced in India or elsewhere. This will include the social structure and conditions within the caste system.

Using website: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

gbgm-umc.org

http://www.goa-world.net/

Group 3 will gather evidence of the problems. This will include statistical data, case studies and articles from experts.

Using website http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

http://www.infoseek.com/

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Group 4 will identify the causes and existing policies in India for/against these problems.

Using website http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/existing.html

http://www.megaspider.com/

http://www.ed.gov/technology/guide/international/science.html

Group 5 will develop solutions and the best policies to combat the caste system.

Using website http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/solutions.html

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/bestsol.html

http://www.schoolsuccessinfo.org/

adaniel.tripod.com

Resources

Policies against the caste system

http://www.hri.ca/racism/submitted/author/WCC.com

UN Perspective on Caste

http://www.dalits.org/perspectiononcaste.html

Origins of the caste system

http://www.unu.edu/hq/ginfo/media/thakur14.html

TIPS Public Policy Analyst

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html

EVALUATION

You will be judged according to the following rubric.

Presentation Rubric- Evaluating student presentation

Excellent	Satisfactory	Minimal Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory
Organization Student presentation is logical, clear and fully captivates audience interest.	Organization Student presentation is logical, clear and somehow captivates audience interest	Organization Student presentation is logical and somehow clear but not captivating	Organization Student presentation is illogical and distorted
Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates full knowledge of subject matter and beyond	Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates knowledge of subject matter	Subject Knowledge Student demonstrates a little knowledge of subject matter	Subject Knowledge Student does not know subject matter
Accuracy No grammatical errors	Accuracy Very few grammatical errors	Accuracy Some grammatical errors	Accuracy Too many grammatical Errors that distorts meaning of words

This webquest focuses on the following :

English Language Arts Performance Standards

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3b: Participate in group meetings.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation

Social Studies

Standard 2

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the in world history from a variety of perspectives.

Standard 3

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live-local, national, and global- including the distribution of people, places, and environment over earth’s surface.

Conclusion

Due to the research on the Caste System in India, students will be able to analyze problems faced by caste systems in other parts of the world and be able to come up with policies that might improve human relations in those nations that have similar human rights violations due to ethnic social structure in those nations.