HUMAN RIGHT EDUCATION IN JESUIT SCHOOLS

HRE – Logistics

“Everyone has the right to education…Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.”

– Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Art.26

 

There are threecomponents to learn Human Rights Education:Learning abouthuman rights, learning forhuman rights and learning throughhuman rights.

 

  1. Learning about human rights involves acquiring relevant knowledge about rights and responsibilities.

 

  1. Learning for human rights encourages children to develop skills essential for understanding the nature of rights and responsibilities and for taking appropriate action.

 

  1. Learning through human rights enables children to experience the values of a community in the school where the learning environment supports respect for individuals.

 

 

 

 

I. HRE MODULES

  1. New Modules were designed and prepared by MITHRA Foundation-Bangalore, IDEAS-Madurai and TN-PCRI. Four modules for four classes:

 

Module I (6thStd) –Human Rights Education (preparatory module);

 

Module II(7thStd)– Introduction to Human Rights Education (Basic Concepts/Principles on Human Rights)

 

Module III(8thStd)– Environment and Child Rights

 

Module IV(9thStd)– Women, Minority, Dalit, Indigenous, Migrant People’s Rights and Protective and Promoting Mechanisms.

 

  1. It is well–structured, connected from one lesson to another lesson, from one module to another module and the focus is on human dignity, human rights and human responsibility – with human rights perspectives.

 

A special concern for vulnerable groups (children, women, Dalits, Tribals etc.) who experience HRTs violations frequently.

 

  1. The modules are children-friendly, highly participatory, varieties of creative exercises - reflective, proactive, raising questions, analytic and transformative.

 

 

 

 

LESSONS

 

 

Example: Module 1

 

Lessons

Lesson theme

Lesson sub-theme

1

OUR WEB WORLD

Inter-relation and Inter-dependence

 

2

MY LIFE

A beautiful and precious gift; Characteristics and Potentials of life

 

3

MY FAMILY

Relationships and Rights; Responsibilities in the family

 

4

MY SCHOOL

Relationships with Living and Non-living beings

 

5

SOCIETY

Relationships, Rights and Responsibility

 

6

NATURE

The Heartbeat of Humans: Relationship between Humans and Nature

 

7

JUSTICE

Justice, Injustice and Social Justice

 

8

EQUALITY

Different types of Inequality and how to promote equality

 

9

FREEDOM

Basic Longings -Freedom with Responsibility

 

10

LOVE

Life-giving energy – parental love, friendship, brotherly and sisterly love, loving our neighbours

 

B. EXERCISES

1. Two Kinds:(1) Class exercises and (2) Home exercises

2. Types of Exercises:

  • question and answer
  • match the following
  • fill in the blanks
  • objective questions
  • yes or no, or agree or disagree
  • discussing and sharing in small groups and in class
  • interviewing
  • small skits
  • composing poem
  • artwork
  • games
  • raising questions
  • questions to  be raised with parents and answers to  be sought
  • …. and so on.

 

NOTE:

  • The variety of exercises makes children to be more active in classes.
  • Sharing of experiences of children and teachers touches the heart and lead to transformation.
  • Participatory and child-centered approach is adopted

 

II. TRAINING& ASSESSMENT

  1. At year beginning, one-dayorientationfor Principals and two-day orientation for Teachers. It is a must.After the two-day training, the teachers become convinced and confident of conducting HRE.
  2. A few days afterwards, a two-day training for teachers on how to use the text book.
  3. Once in three months, a special one/two-day training on themes related to human rights, social analysis & child-adolescent psychology.
  4. For the first three months - once a week assessment session.
  5. For the rest of the year, monthly one hour assessment session.
  6. Human Rights Day celebration in the school – 10th Dec. (with cultural programs, competitions, etc.)
  7. Year-end impact assessment study & planning for the following year.

 

NOTE:After a few months of taking classes, the teachers will be more committed towards HRE because they themselves will experience transformation within.

 

III. COORDINATION & RESPONSIBILLITY

  1. Persons responsible
  • School Coordinator – maybe a teacher;
  • Province Coordinator – a Jesuit/ lay-man;
  • National/South-Asia Coordinator – a Jesuit/lay-man.

 

  1. Responsibilities
  • visiting schools – Principal, teachers and students;
  • interacting with students in classes;
  • giving suggestions,
  • preparing reports,
  • organizing training,
  • evaluating
  • making school campus human rights friendly
  • …. and soon.

 

IV. CONCLUSION – HOPES & CHALLENGES

  1. The impact of HRE is greater than the expected – Transformation is seen among students, teachers and Principals.

 

  1. Three levels of transformations happen – personal level, social level and political level.

 

  1. HRE has changed their attitude, thinking, feeling, perspective, words and actions.

 

  1. It has broughtabout changes in school atmosphere as well as in the families of children and teachers.

 

  1. It is an effective weapon to fight against globalization, caste communalism andreligious and racial fundamentalism and other inequalities and injustices.

 

  1. It activates the consciousness as well as conscience of the teachers & students.

 

  1. It includes moral education as well socio–political and cultural education.

 

  1. HRE cultivates a new culture – Human Rights Culture – opposed to violent and dominant culture.

 

  1. It brings justice and peace within and without.

 

  1. The big challenge is to convince provincials and principals, and the commitment of Jesuits who are going to involve in HRE programme.

 

Fr Cyril sj

c/o De Britto HS School

Devakottai, Tamil Nadu

14/07/2017

9943570083