Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Harris, and I'm the person who's going to be leading you in your learning today.

The lesson today is called, "Who Does the Law Apply To?

" and it's part of a two-lesson series on the rule of law.

By the time we reach the end of this lesson, you are going to be able to say, "I can explain that the law applies to everyone and why this is important.

" Some of this lesson content might be a little bit new to you.

Some of it might be tricky.

Some of it might be all right.

I'm gonna be guiding you all the way from beginning to end, and we'll stick together, and we'll do it together.

First of all, let's start with some ground rules.

So it's really important to have these rules in place to make sure that everybody is comfortable in today's lesson.

One of these rules is, Laura says, "Listen to others.

" It's really important to make sure you're listening and properly taken in what they're saying.

The second rule is "Respect privacy.

" That means we don't go talking about things that we've discussed in the lesson, if it's talking about other people.

The third rule is, as Jacob says, "No judgment.

" We don't want judging during our lessons.

We're just listening, and we're respecting.

And finally, Izzy says, "Choose your level of participation.

" That means if you don't want to talk about something, particularly at that point, that's okay.

You don't have to speak at that point.

Thank you.

Let's start with some key words then.

Today, we've got two of them.

I'm going to say them out loud.

You are going to repeat it back to me if you wish, and then I'll tell you the definition.

Equally.

Equally means sharing or treating people so that everyone gets the same amount or the same chance.

Responsibility.

That's having a duty to deal with something.

Our first learning cycle is called, "What Does It Mean to Be Treated Fairly by the Law?

" Two children in Aisha and Jacob's class broke a school rule.

They broke the same school rule, but one got into trouble and the other didn't.

Aisha's a bit troubled by this.

And she says, "But that's not fair!

" And Jacob says, "No, you're right.

It's not.

They both did the same thing, but only one of them had consequences," for those actions.

What do Aisha and Jacob mean by being fair?

Well, a lot of people take fair to mean treating people respectfully and treating people equally.

Means treating them the same or giving them the same chances.

So when Aisha and Jacob are talking about something not being fair, it means those two people, they weren't both treated respectfully, and they both weren't treated equally.

Now, fairness is a really, really important part of our society.

People like to be treated fairly.

They like to be treated fairly at home, at school, at work, and in their communities as well.

And when things are fair, it has a really positive impact on everybody because it means that people can trust each other, they can work together, and, very importantly, they feel safer.

So our first check for understanding, then.

Can you fill in the missing words here?

So here we have the diagram we've just looked at, and we have the word fair.

And it means two different things: treating people hmm and treating people hmm.

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay, then.

So these missing words, so we've got fair is treating people respectfully and treating people equally.

Well done, if you've got those.

One way society can make sure that things are fair and that everyone is treated equally is with laws.

Now, laws help organize how people behave in a country.

And that can help people feel safe, and be safe, and to make sure they're treated fairly and equally.

And here, you've got three pictures about how laws can help: things like seatbelt laws, and traffic laws, and also, about making sure that people who have additional needs or accessibility needs can access things and go places just the same as people who don't have those accessibility needs or difficulties.

And in the UK, we have something called the rule of law.

The rule of law is really quite simple.

It just means that the law applies to everybody and everybody has a responsibility to follow it.

It doesn't matter if it's a child.

It doesn't matter if it's a famous footballer, if it's a business, the police, government, or even a billionaire.

It doesn't matter who that person is.

The law applies to everybody equally, and everybody has a responsibility to follow it.

The rule of law is also the other way around as well.

So yes, everybody has to follow it and everybody has a responsibility to follow it, but it also means that the law has a responsibility to treat everybody equally.

So, again, the businesses, the footballers, the people, the billionaires, police, the government, all of those must be treated fairly by the law as well as them respecting the law.

This means that no matter how old a person is, who they are, how much money they have, what their job is, the law should protect them in the same way as it protects everybody in the country.

A quick check for understanding, then.

So what is the special name for the idea that the law applies to everyone?

Is it A, country's laws, B, the law of rules, or C, the rule of law?

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay, so the special name for the idea that the law applies to everyone is C, the rule of law.

Well done, if you got that one.

So let's go back to the beginning again, then.

Do you remember when Aisha and Jacob noticed that, in their school, two people were treated differently?

So they're saying, in their school, the rules weren't the same for everybody, and they realized two very important things.

Aisha realized that, "Being treated fairly is really important.

" And Jacob realized that, "Everyone should be treated equally.

" And that is exactly what the rule of law means for a whole country.

So just like in school you expect to be treated fairly, people in the country expect to be treated fairly as well.

It's a little bit like having this gigantic invisible referee, and they make sure that this game, this country, is fair for every single person.

Everybody has the same protections, and everybody follows the same rules.

Let's have a look at some scenarios, then.

So if a cafe worker kept taking money from the till to buy themselves something, then that would be really unfair.

Now, exactly the same way, if a leader of the country kept using the country's money.

So that's money that's supposed to be for things like schools and hospitals.

If they kept using that money to buy themselves something, then that would also be unfair.

It doesn't matter whether it's a cafe worker or a leader of the country.

It's unfair.

And so they both broke the same law, which was stealing, so that they should both take responsibility for what they did, and they should be treated in the same way.

It doesn't matter who they are.

Another scenario.

If a small shop sold something that was broken, and they refuse to swap it, that would be unfair.

Just the same as if a supermarket sold something that was broken, and they refused to swap it.

That would also be unfair.

Again, they both broke the same law, so they should both take responsibility for what they did.

It doesn't matter that one is a small shop and one is a huge shop.

To be treated fairly by the law means no special treatment.

So it doesn't matter if you're famous or you've got a lot of money.

You don't get special treatment or to be treated more favorably than anybody else.

It also means there's no invisible people.

So in other words, nobody's too small to be protected.

Nobody is classed as being not important enough to be protected or, the other, not too big to be held responsible.

So somebody who is very rich or a very big business, they are held responsible, just the same as anybody else would be.

It also means there is one set of rules.

So one set of laws for everybody, doesn't matter who you are.

So being treated fairly by the law is like having one gigantic umbrella that covers everybody.

It's the same umbrella, the same rules, the same law for everybody.

A quick check for understanding again, then.

This one is a true or false.

If a famous footballer breaks a law, they don't have to follow the same rules as a shopkeeper because they're talented and wealthy.

Is that true or is that false?

Take a few seconds to think.

And the answer to this is false, but why is it false?

Take a few seconds to think.

All right, then.

So why?

Why is it false?

And that's because no one is above the law.

No one should be treated better or worse than others because of who they are, the amount of money they have, or what they do.

Well done, if you've got that one.

Another check for understanding, then.

So can you complete the sentences by choosing the correct ending?

So we've got A, laws must be applied.

B, they have to apply to everyone to.

And finally, C, the law must treat everyone the same in order.

And the possible endings for these are, Number 1, equally, Number 2, to be fair, and 3, protect us.

So which start of the sentence fits with the end of the sentence?

So complete the sentence by choosing the correct ending.

Take a few seconds to think.

All right, then.

A, laws must be applied equally.

B, they have to apply to everyone to protect us.

And C, the law must treat everyone the same in order to be fair.

Well done, if you've got those.

It's time for your first task, then, now.

And this is split into two parts.

So the first part is to draw a circle in the middle of your page and write "The law" inside it.

And then around that circle, you are going to write or draw five different people.

And from those, you're going to draw an arrow from every person pointing to the circle.

It's a good idea to pause the video to give yourself the time to do this.

And then, we'll come back and have a look at it together.

Alright, then let's come back together, and we'll have a look at what you've done.

So mine looks like this.

So I have my five people around the edge, and my circle in the middle saying, "The law," and the arrows are pointing to "The law.

" Well done, if you've done that first part.

The second part of this task, then, is to write a short explanation of what you've just drawn.

What does that mean about the law and everyone in the country?

Again, pause the video to give yourself the time to do this.

And then, we'll come back together.

Okay, then your answer might look something like this.

I've written, "This shows that everyone should follow the law, but also that the law protects everyone equally, too.

" Well done, if yours read something like this.

It's time for our second learning cycle called "What Happens if Laws Are Not Applied Fairly?

" When laws are applied fairly, everyone is held accountable, means responsible, for what they've done, and they're also protected in the same way.

And Jacob says, "But what happens if this doesn't happen?

" Well, if the people in charge apply the law unfairly or unequally, then that means some people are not going to be held accountable and then, some others won't be protected as much as other people are.

So Sam is having a conversation with a shopkeeper.

And she says, "I bought a football from you, but when I took it out of the box, it had a rip in it.

Please, could I swap it or get a refund?

" And the shopkeeper says, "I only give refunds to my friends.

I don't know you, so you get nothing!

" Well, this isn't fair on Sam, is it?

The law says that customers have got a right to a refund.

That means they are allowed to have a refund, if the item that they've bought is faulty.

The shopkeeper is in charge of the shop, but that doesn't mean that they can just apply the law differently to different people.

So they can't apply that law unfairly by giving a refund to one person, so in his case, his friends, but not another person just because he doesn't know them.

The shopkeeper has the responsibility to apply the law equally, but he's not doing this.

So here's a check for understanding, then.

Sam says, "I bought a football from you, but when I took it out of the box, it had a rip in it.

Please, could I swap it or get a refund?

" The shopkeeper says, "I only give refunds to my friends.

I don't know you, so you get nothing!

" So can you finish this sentence to help Sam reply?

So she says, "That's not fair.

The law should be the same for.

.

" Can you finish that sentence?

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay, so how you might have finished this sentence is, then, "That's not fair.

The law should be the same for everyone," or "all.

" Well done, if you got that one.

Sam was treated unfairly by the shopkeeper.

She then found out about other things that didn't seem fair.

So two people were caught on the same road driving faster than the speed limit, which means they'd both broken the law.

Now, Sandra, the first driver, she works in the local library.

The police officer, when he pulled her over said, "You've been caught speeding today.

You will need to pay this fine.

" That's fair.

She's broken the law.

But Craig, the second driver, is a famous celebrity.

And the police officer, when he pulled him over, recognized him, and he said, "Oh, I love your films.

You can go.

I won't give you a fine today.

" Well, that's not fair is it?

A police officer has the responsibility to apply the law equally.

Both people broke the law.

So both people should have the same consequence, but instead he's letting the famous person off because he recognizes him and likes him.

So that means the law is not being applied equally.

Jun has just been given a place at a new school, but the problem is it's very far away, and it would take him two hours just to walk there.

The law says that when that happens, the local council has a responsibility to provide either a free bus travel or a taxi for children who live quite far away.

Other children in different councils have been provided with this transport, and it's all working really well.

For some reason, Jun's council won't provide the transport.

And he's been told, "We cannot afford to get you transport.

You will have to walk.

" And that's from Billy, the council worker.

Now, Sandra felt angry because she'd been fined, but Craig had been let off because he was famous.

She knew that she'd done something wrong.

She wasn't arguing that, but she felt like the law was harder on her than somebody different.

Sam felt sad that she'd been cheated out of a refund or a replacement ball, just because she wasn't the shopkeeper's friend.

And Jun here, he felt frustrated that he hadn't been given the transport to help him, just because of where he lives.

When the law is applied fairly, people can trust each other, they can work together, and they feel safer.

But when the law is not applied fairly, it can make people feel upset.

It can make people feel incredibly frustrated and sometimes quite angry as well.

And it can also, then, make it hard to trust others.

And sometimes, it can even make people feel unsafe.

People might lose trust in the people who are in charge, in the leaders, for example.

They might lose trust in the police or even lose trust in the law because they don't feel like the law is protecting them, even though it should.

And that can start to affect communities because they start to feel like they're being disrespected, they're not being treated equally, or, worse of all, it feels like they don't matter.

Quick check for understanding, then.

Which of these is not correct?

When the law is not applied fairly.

A, it can make people feel upset, frustrated, or angry, B, it makes it hard to trust others or feel safe, or people can trust each other, work together, and feel safer.

So which of those is not correct?

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay, so which of these is not correct?

When the law is not applied fairly, people cannot trust each other, can they?

So the bottom one is not correct.

People don't trust each other, they don't work together, and they don't feel safe, which means C is incorrect.

Well done, if you've got that one.

It's time for your second task, now, then.

So you are going to imagine you are either Sandra, Sam, or Jun, and you are going to explain to a friend why you are upset with what happened.

So for this task, then, you might want to think about what happened, if they felt like they were being treated fairly, and why and why not.

And then, also, what do they think that should happen?

As we said for Task A, it's a good idea, now, to pause the video to give yourself the time to do this.

And then, we'll come back and look at some potential answers.

Okay, then let's have a look at some potential answers, then.

So for Sam, your response might be something like this.

"I'm so upset!

A new football is broken, but the shopkeeper only gives refunds to his friends.

It's not fair.

The law says shops must help everyone, not just people they know.

I think the shopkeeper should follow the rules and give me a refund like anyone else.

" For Sandra, you might have said something like this.

"I'm so frustrated!

I got a speeding fine, which is fair because I broke the law.

But the police let a celebrity go just because he's famous!

The law should be the same for everyone.

It's wrong to pick favorites; we should both be treated exactly the same.

" And finally, for Jun, "I feel really left out.

The law says I should have a free bus to school because I live so far away, but my council said, 'No.

' Other children in other towns get a bus, so why not me?

The law should protect every child equally, no matter where they live.

" Well done, if your responses were something like that.

It's time for the third learning cycle now called "Who Can Help, if Laws Are Not Applied Fairly?

" In the last learning cycle, we looked at what happens if the law is not applied fairly.

And in this learning cycle, we're going to look at who can help if that happens.

So the law says that if people in charge don't carry out their responsibility, then there is always going to be somebody above them who can then make that final decision.

So if leaders are not doing their jobs correctly, if they are not using their responsibility, if they are not applying it fairly, there will be somebody else who can help, and they will make the final decision.

There's always somebody higher up who can do that.

And this could be individuals, or it could be organizations.

Help can be found in different ways.

It could be found in trusted adults.

So people that you know: so parents, teachers, youth workers, and other caring adults who can then support.

Help can also be found in something called ombudsman.

And they're basically fairness experts.

They listen to both sides of the story, and then they give advice on how to put things right and how to find a solution.

And there's also another layer of courts and judges.

So if something is quite serious, it might go to a court, and it will be a judge that will then make a decision.

And they will do that by considering the law, and then making a fair decision that then must be carried out.

A quick check for understanding, then.

Can you put the correct word into the gap to complete the sentence?

If a business hmm follow the rules, special hmm can step in to make sure that hmm is applied hmm.

And the four words that we have there to fit in are organizations, equally, doesn't, and law.

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay then, so let's fill in these spaces.

So put the correct word into the gap to complete them.

So if a business doesn't follow the rules, special organizations can step in to make sure the law is applied equally.

Well done, if you got those four.

So Aisha says to Sam, now, "Did your football ever get replaced, Sam?

" Sam says, "It's a long story.

.

" So Sam was still upset about her broken football.

It wasn't in a good condition when she bought it.

And remember, when she wanted a refund, the shopkeeper wouldn't give her it.

And she knew that the shopkeeper was being unfair by only helping his friends.

So Sam didn't give up.

She told her parents.

Together, they contacted the ombudsman.

And that's a retail one, which deals about things being sold and being bought.

An ombudsman is a free service, which, as we said earlier, they listen to both sides and then they try to find a fair solution.

And then, they will make recommendations to put things right.

That doesn't mean it's a recommendation in law, so they don't have to do that, right?

But it would be quite unwise for a business or an individual to ignore an ombudsman.

And here's what the ombudsman said to Sam.

"Dear Sam, thank you for your report.

I have looked into what happened at the shop with the football.

You are correct.

The shopkeeper was being unfair.

The law says shops must apply the law fairly to all, not just their friends.

I will be contacting him and recommending that he should give a refund or a replacement football.

Your sincerely, Retail Ombudsman.

" So that's a successful conclusion for Sam, hopefully, if the shopkeeper then follows that advice by the ombudsman.

Sandra, the driver who was fined for driving too quick, she contacted a special police organization, and they are the ones who are going to investigate to make sure that the law is applied fairly to everyone, no matter how famous or not famous that they are.

Now, Sandra didn't say that she hadn't done anything wrong.

She admitted that.

But the problem was is that somebody who was famous was let off from committing the same crime as she did.

Jun and his family tried to sort things out with the council, but eventually they had to go to the courts.

The courts had checked the law to see if that Jun had been treated fairly, or had he been treated unfairly?

And then, their final decision was that the council had not followed the law.

So the final decision there was that the council would have to provide transport for Jun.

Another quick check for understanding, then.

So what is the main job of an ombudsman?

Is it A, to always take the side of the person in charge?

Is it B, to change the laws whenever they feel like it?

Or is it to C, to make sure the law is applied fairly to everyone?

Take a few seconds to think.

Okay, let's check the answer, then.

So what is the main job of an ombudsman?

It is C, to make sure that the law is applied fairly to everyone.

Well done.

It's time for your third task, then, Task C.

Now, the sentences below are incomplete.

You are going to choose your own words to complete them to explain about applying the law fairly.

Let's have a look at the sentences below, then.

So Number 1, the law is like a shield because it should protect hmm.

Number 2, even the prime minister or a famous celebrity must follow the law because no one.

Sentence 3, when the people in charge don't follow the law, it makes people feel.

And to complete that one there.

And the last one, if the law is applied unfairly, I can get help from a fairness expert like a.

And you can complete that one there.

Pause the video to give yourself the chance to do this.

And then, we'll come back, and we'll look at some possible endings to the sentences.

Okay, let's have a look at how these sentences could be ended, then.

So your answers might look something like this.

So number 1, the law is a shield because it should protect everyone, or every person, something like that.

Number 2, even the prime minister or a famous celebrity must follow the law because no one is above the law.

No one should get special treatment.

Nobody should be treated any differently.

Those kind of things.

Well done, if you got that.

Number 3, when the people in charge don't follow the law, it makes people feel.

Can you remember this?

Angry, sad, frustrated, like they don't matter.

Maybe disrespected.

Those kind of things.

Well done.

And Number 4, if the law is applied unfairly, I can get help from a fairness expert, like a judge, or a court, an ombudsman, trusted adult.

Somebody like that.

Well done, if you've got answers that were similar to these ones.

Fantastic.

It's time to summarize our learning now, which means we are gonna look at the main points that we have learned today.

Everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law, no matter who they are.

Laws must be the same for everyone to be fair, and they should protect everyone the same.

Everyone has a responsibility to follow the law, and those in charge have a responsibility to apply the law fairly.

People can get help if the laws are not applied fairly and equally from people like a trusted adults, and ombudsman, and the courts.

Well done with your learning today.

You have been brilliant.

You have done it all.

You've put in the effort, and I am really proud of you.

Hope to see you again soon.