This lesson will guide students through their human right to education and help them evaluate how well the world is doing when it comes to providing a free, equal, quality education to our youth.
Materials
Writing utensils, paper, Internet
Procedures
Without guidance, allow students the freedom to list their "rights" as they understand them by completing the writing prompt, "I have a human right to…"
After 5 to 10 minutes, ask students to stop writing and share their thoughts aloud.
Explain to students that according to the Declaration of Human Rights, "Every person is entitled to certain rights — simply by the fact that they are a human being. They are 'rights' because they are things you are allowed to be, to do or to have. These rights are there for your protection against people who might want to harm or hurt you. They are also there to help us get along with each other and live in peace."
Ask students if they would like to change any of the rights they listed based on this new information. Also, ask students if they feel there are any rights that they've been denied or ones of which they don't take full advantage.
Afterward, read Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights aloud to the students and discuss its meaning with them.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26:
Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages…
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.
Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Ask students if they feel as though these rights have been granted to all children despite gender, race, class or ability. Whether they agree or disagree, ask them to expand upon their answers.
Tell students that according to UNICEF, more than 115 million children of primary-school age are not in school and that nearly 53 percent of those children are girls. Explain that some of the main reasons why so many children are not enrolled in primary school include the fact that some families cannot afford school fees or the cost of uniforms; some need children to work in order to support their families financially; while others keep their children home because the journey to school is too long, too dangerous, or because there is a fear of bullying, sexual harassment or violence, especially for girls. In addition, some communities dictate that families place more emphasis on the education of boys than girls.
Discuss the implications with students and guide them in a discussion about the following questions before allowing them to break into groups for deeper dialog:
1) What is your personal position on equal rights to education?
2) Are there different sides to this issue? What are they?
3) How does the government (local, state and federal) guarantee a human right like education?
4) Do the media discuss this issue? How? What impact are they making?
5) Does the community discuss this issue? How? What impact are they making?
6) Is enough being done to ensure equal educational opportunities?
7) What will happen if nothing is done or if nothing changes?
8) What do you think should be done?
9) What will you do?
Have the class create a front-page newspaper spread discussing these issues. Assign each group a different task: feature story; sub-stories; column; editorials; images/captions; statistics; advertising; etc. This could be brought together on poster board or even a bulletin board.
Extension Activity
Ask students to share ways in which they feel they have not taken full advantage of their right to an education; this could come in the form of an editorial for the paper.