The This is My Home e-Newsletter is designed specifically for teachers, administrators, and other school partners, working to integrate Human Rights Education into their curriculum and schools. This forum will showcase Human Rights Education news from across the state of Minnesota as well as the emerging human rights practices conducted in our classrooms, schools, and larger communities.
Please encourage your friends and colleagues to register online - www.thisismyhome.org
All Minnesota educators can receive a free This is My Home toolkit in the mail following registration!
This is My Home has reached educators and activists throughout Minnesota, the United States, and even the world; As of April 3, 2008, our registration total is 3,290!
In this Issue:
New Human Rights Curriculum Units Available!
How to Become Involved and Promote Human Rights
Training Opportunities and Events Update
Facing History and Ourselves
Child Protection International
www.childprotectioninternational.org
Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center
New Curriculum Units Available!
With the support of the General Mills Foundation, the Human Rights Center trained Minneapolis and St. Paul educators in Human Rights Education and Curriculum Development. On July 28-31, 2008, eight educators from Minneapolis and St. Paul attended a four-day Curriculum Writing Academy. The group included educators working with a wide range of grade levels and subjects, from elementary school to after school programs and vocational training. The academy’s small group setting promoted discussion, close interaction, and mutual support for everyone in the group, facilitators and other participants alike.
During the four-day Academy, participants learned about human rights, human rights education, methods and techniques for designing curricula, integrating cultural competency, and resources available through This is My Home (www.thisismyhome.org), the online Human Rights Library (www.humanrightslibrary.org), and the Human Rights and Peace Store (www.humanrightsandpeacestore.org).
The participants also engaged in hands-on discussion on integrating these resources into their curriculum units. By the end of the workshop, each participant had developed a curriculum unit based on her interests and grade level or audience.
These eight curriculum units have been made available on the This is My Home website for use by other educators, as well as participants in our online courses and workshops. The units include topics like food justice, anti-bullying, and a harassment-free workplace. The information on the academy and links to the units can be found in the Training and Pilots section of the This is My Home website at
http://www.hrusa.org/thisismyhome/trainings/twincities.shtml#summer_academy_2008
On March 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2009 the Human Rights Center partnered with the Northwest Suburban Integration School District to offer the 2009 Spring Human Rights Curriculum Writing Academy.
Below are participants’ feedback on the academy:
“The academy contributed to promoting positive interaction among students from diverse backgrounds. It offered a variety of resources. Many students whose voices haven’t been heard will be more likely to participate. I look forward to building a stronger classroom community!”
“The most valuable part of the academy was having the necessary time to develop curriculum, being directed to so many resources, and using the curriculum planning tool online.”
“The academy helped me to organize my ideas and gave me a framework to work within. It will help my students to learn about each others’ stories and help to see their similarities.”
“Human rights are so important to individuals. It is important to help students develop skills for being compassionate and active global citizens. Social Studies is a wonderful opportunity to weave human rights understanding and action opportunities into the curriculum.”
“The academy was such a great opportunity all around! Most valuable, if I had to decide, would be the opportunity to share ideas and experiences, as well as support and the time to research resources and develop curriculum.”
How to Become Involved and Promote Human Rights
By Kay Gedeit, Human Rights Center Intern
Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI) is an independent, non-profit organization with the goal of educating people, specifically youth, about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. YHRI was founded in August 2001 by Mary Shuttleworth, an educator and school principal, to teach about human rights, tolerance, and peace by providing resources for students and guides for teachers. YHRI also provides people with the opportunity to become involved and promote human rights.
The YHRI website, www.youthforhumanrights.org, has a section called “Get Active!” that lists things that everyone can do in order to promote human rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One of the easiest things that someone can do is sign YHRI’s petition for human rights education to be made available to everyone around the world. The “Things Anyone Can Do for Human Rights” section provides simple suggestions for actions people can take everyday, such as recycling, helping at a food bank or homeless shelter, or speaking up if someone is saying bad things about another person. One of the suggestions is to start a human rights club.
YHRI is a great resource for students, teachers, and community members to become educated about human rights. Information about how to become involved can be found at http://www.youthforhumanrights.org/getactive.
Training Opportunities and Events Update
Facing History and Ourselves: Choices in Little Rock
Time: June 22-24, 8:30 am-3:30 pm
Place: U of M Human Rights Center
Cost: $60 seminar fee
A light breakfast and lunch will be provided each day
Please note: $12/day parking fee @ U of M
Please register online at www.facinghistory.org/ChoicesMinnesota
How do we embolden and empower students to be active citizens today? In this seminar, educators will explore issues of civic participation through “Choices in Little Rock,” a historical case study of the integration of Little Rock High School in Arkansas. This seminar will be of particular interest to teachers of government, U.S. history, and American literature. It is applicable to both middle school and high school audiences.
Choices in Little Rock is a collection of teaching suggestions, activities, and primary sources that focus on the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. These efforts led to a crisis that historian Taylor Branch once described as “the most severe test of the Constitution since the Civil War.” Click on the link below, to download, borrow, or purchase this teaching unit:
http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/publications/choices-little-rock
As a part of this workshop, the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center and Tolerance Minnesota will partner to present the newly created Close the Gap documentary series and educator guide. Close the Gap is a 5-part series on race, class, and place disparities in the Twin Cities. The Educator guide is a manual designed for teachers of grades 8-12 and community organizers with youth.
2009 Human Rights Day Poster Contest
All Minnesota students in grades K-12 are eligible to compete in the 2009 Statewide Human Rights Day Poster Contest. Contestants are asked to depict in art form what they think the message below from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. means in our society today.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Many of the ugly pages of American history have been obscured and forgotten....
America owes a debt of justice which it has only begun to pay. If it loses the will to
finish or slackens in its determination, history will recall its crimes and the country
that would be great will lack the most indispensable element of greatness--justice.
-Martin Luther King, Jr., 1967 “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”
More information available at: www.humanrights.state.mn.us
Students will compete in four grade level categories: Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12, with judging based on clarity of message, originality, creativity, and neatness.
Entries must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 and delivered to the following address (posters must be mailed flat; please do not send rolled artwork):
Attn: Natela Jordan
2009 Human Rights Day Poster Contest
University of Minnesota Human Rights Center
N120 Mondale Hall
229 19th Ave S.
Minneapolis MN 55455
Facing History and Ourselves
Facing History is informed by leading thinkers from the fields of philosophy, religion, and education, and is a leader in educating for tolerance and understanding. Facing History highlights education as a crucial tool for strengthening civil societies. They offer in-depth professional development services; curricular resources; and ongoing support to educators and students in the areas of history, social studies, and language arts.
Child Protection International (CPI)
www.childprotectioninternational.org
Child Protection International is working to bring attention to the global problems of child abduction, trafficking, and exploitation. CPI offers support and guidance to concerned students and groups who wish to take on their own projects. CPI-affiliated groups have the opportunity to become experts on important human rights issues and to learn valuable skills related to starting new campaigns.
Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center
The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC), formerly known as the Westchester Holocaust Education Center, is an interfaith, not-for-profit organization focused on encouraging and enhancing teaching and learning about the about the Holocaust and its human rights lessons for today. The website’s Teacher Resources section contains free curriculum resources on genocide, stereotyping, prejudice and many others.