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Aim
To
investigate through the use of drama, some of
the different views relating to land management.
The role play also aims to encourage broader thinking
about factors that affect change and the different
ways that people may examine the same issue.
Context
Has anyone thought about why farmers don't always
implement changes? This exercise uses a role-play
to encourage broader thinking about factors that
affect change and the different ways that people
may examine the same issue. There is often a range
of people involved with decision making and they
may have a variety of views and emotions that
need to be considered.
Exercise
You are a member of a successful farming family.
Traditionally the enterprise has relied on wool.
However due to the down turn in wool prices, the
oldest son who has been back on the farm for 5
years since finishing agricultural college is
looking at new enterprises. Blue gum plantations
have been shown in many studies to be the most
profitable use of land in your locality.
The family is all at home one weekend and the
issue of planting blue gums is raised. The son
proposes that the entire farm is leased to the
Blue Gum Corporation for 20 years. The corporation
will plant blue gums on the property and harvest
them in 20 years time. What are going to be the
major issues for the following members of the
family in relation to this proposal?
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Dad
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Mum |
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Eldest
son (at home on farm) |
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Daughter
in law (married to eldest son and living on
the farm) |
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Sister
(living in town) |
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Youngest
son (at uni) |
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| 1. |
Divide into 6 groups, each group is assigned
a different member of the family and provided
with some information about their family member
(provided below). |
| 2. |
In your group, discuss and write down the
issues for your character. Each family member
may have different ways of looking at the
farm. Think about how they would relate to
each of the other family members and what
their priorities may be. |
| 3. |
As
a group, decide what the opinion of your character
is to the proposed changes. Select one person
to be the spokesperson (role player) for the
group. |
| 4. |
The
six role players then act out the family discussion
in front of the class as their respective
family member, playing the part the group
has decided for them. |
| 5. |
The other members of the class should note
the behaviours of the family members during
the discussion (Who is the most assertive?
Which people agree? Do they listen to the
opinions of the other family members? Are
they willing to change their opinions?) |
| 6. |
After
the role play, discuss as a class what happened.
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How
did the family members feel during the
discussion? |
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Who
presented the strongest argument? |
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Was
a decision able to be reached? |
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Did
this role play make you think differently
about the decisions that farm families
make? |
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How
can those of us who live in cities gain
a better understanding of the issues
faced by farm families? |
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Success
with setting goals may depend on how well the
group works together as a team that trusts each
other, listens to each other and takes each other's
viewpoints seriously. It is no different in a
farming situation, where good relations with family
and the people that work there are necessary to
achieve goals.
Family
member profiles
| Dad
- 55 years old. Left school at 16 to work
on the property. Took over the farm from his
father and has lived on the farm all his life.
Married at the age of 24. He and his wife
have three children. |
Discuss: What might be the issues for this character?
Each family member may have different ways of
looking at the farm. Think about how this character
may relate to each of the other family members
and what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
| Mum
- 53 years old. Grew up in the nearby town,
married at the age of 22 and moved onto her
husband's farm where she has lived ever since.
She and her husband have three children. |
Discuss: What might be the issues for this character?
Each family member may have different ways of
looking at the farm. Think about how this character
may relate to each of the other family members
and what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
| Eldest
son - 28 years old. Completed an agricultural
degree after finishing school. He has been
living and working on the family farm for
the past five years. He is married and his
wife lives on the property with him. The couple
have no children at this time. |
Discuss: What might be the issues for this character?
Each family member may have different ways of
looking at the farm. Think about how this character
may relate to each of the other family members
and what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
| Daughter-in-law
- 27 years old. Married to the eldest
son and lives on the farm. She works in town
as an accountant. The couple have no children
at this time. |
Discuss:
What might be the issues for this character? Each
family member may have different ways of looking
at the farm. Think about how this character may
relate to each of the other family members and
what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
| Sister
- 25 years old. Lives in town and works
as a veterinary nurse. |
Discuss:
What might be the issues for this character? Each
family member may have different ways of looking
at the farm. Think about how this character may
relate to each of the other family members and
what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
| Youngest
son - 22 years old. Attending university,
about to complete a degree in natural resource
management. He is unsure what he wants to
do when he finishes his course. |
Discuss: What might be the issues for this character?
Each family member may have different ways of
looking at the farm. Think about how this character
may relate to each of the other family members
and what their priorities may be.
Decide what the opinion of your character is to
the proposed changes. Select one person to be
the spokesperson (role player) for the group.
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