Педагогические науки/5. Современные методы преподавания

Викладач Шапочка К.А.

Миколаївський державний університет імені В.О.Сухомлинського, Україна

Human rights in education – “Human rights are yours and mine”

The basis of human rights – respect for each individual human life and human dignity – can be found in most of the world’s great religions and philosophies. Human rights do not have to be bought, earned or inherited – they are called “inalienable” because no one has the right to take them away from any person for any reason. This means they are inherent in every human being, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Human rights are best described in international texts (or instruments) which have been agreed by states and which set out human rights standards. The most famous of these is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948 – it is a statement of principles which continues to have great influence all over the world.

Taking its initiative from the Universal Declaration, the Council of Europe created the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR).

A new post of Commissioner for Human Rights was created in 1999. The Commissioner is responsible for promoting education, awareness and respect for human rights in member states and ensuring full and effective respect of Council of Europe texts such as conventions and recommendations.

“Human rights are yours and mine” is one of the slogans promoting awareness of human rights – to make the slogan a reality needs continued work, vigilance and shared understanding of what it could really mean. Here teachers can play a vital role in their contact with young people in helping to construct a society based on human rights.

We don’t need to be lawyers to introduce these topics into our work; human rights belong to everyone. Long experience has demonstrated that human rights education needs a three-dimensional approach to be effective: 1) knowledge-based (about human rights) content consists of information and understanding about: types of rights; the history of rights; international legal instruments; how democracy functions. 2) skills-based (for human rights) personal and social skills: self-knowledge and self-awareness; assessing and understanding your own motives with regard to others; realizing your own prejudices. Interactive skills: listening; resisting group pressure; expressing opinions. Problem-solving skills: locating information; making decisions; using judgment; conflict resolution. 3) environment- based (in or through human rights) creating a learning environment where the structures, methods and relationships operating in the teaching and learning situation (environment) reflect the values of human rights and its learning objectives: creating a ‘whole-school (university) policy’; democratic working methods which demonstrate mutual respect between teacher and student.

One of the most important outcomes for human rights education is action, no matter how small it is. It is vital to set a realistic goal, because if people take on too much, they may fail or become discouraged and give up. Taking part in the following projects helps to develop the skills and qualities to live in the spirit of human rights.

Here is a list of human rights projects: * becoming a volunteer in a community or human rights organization; * writing articles for and publishing a magazine; * starting a community project with young people with disabilities; * passing on human rights skills to others; * attending seminars and conferences to learn new skills and meet others; *taking part in activities on International Women’s Day; * participating in regional and national events and exhibitions; * develop a web site about your interest in human rights; * educate yourself and others (family, friends, contacts) about human rights.

We believe that the major purpose of the school/university is to help students learn to live together harmoniously in a world that is becoming smaller and smaller, and we believe that greater social equality will result if students learn to respect one another regardless of race, class, gender, or disability. We feel that teachers’ goal is to promote a feeling of unity, tolerance and acceptance among people.

The human relations approach teachers positive feelings among all students, promotes group identity and pride for students of color, reduces stereotypes, and works to eliminate prejudice and biases.