The Value of Children's Rights Education
A random sequence of events inspired me to create the Children’s Rights Education online community, which includes an integrated curriculum and pedagogy for children in grades K – 12 that is referenced to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). It first started with a requirement from the BC College of Teachers that I retake some courses at the University of Victoria as part of the recertification requirements for returning back to teaching after an extended leave of absence to raise my four children. Part of the requirements for recertification as a teacher in British Columbia was that I take any Science first year course of my choosing and I had to also complete the Reading in the Classroom Methodology course for Elementary School teachers. I enrolled in the introductory level Environmental Science course which, I later discovered, was centred around Global food systems. At the same time, I was taking the 18 month Montessori Methods Credentials for elementary Grades 1 – 6 through the Vancouver School Board. The convergence of these three courses led to the creation of Children’s Rights Education in the fall of 2011.
It all started with an assignment that was due in Literature in the Classroom. We were asked to present a commercial for a picture book, and I had selected One Hen by Katie Smith Milway. I had thought to expand this picture book project into the next assignment, which was a genre or author study of approximately 4 picture books. As I was taking Environmental Studies, it seemed a good idea to use these assignments to document what I was learning in the Environmental Studies course for future reference. I was intrigued to explore the literature pertaining to global food systems and its environmental impact our modern production of food as documented in children's literature.
Well, things started to snowball from then on. I explored the One Hen website (www.onehen.org) and discovered an exciting interactive resource for students to explore the concept of micro-financing. I had also acquired the book A Life Like Mine by UNICEF documenting, in simplistic language with incredible visuals, the Conventions on the Rights of the Child. It became very clear to me that the rights of children globally are impacted by our production of food in the western, industrialized world.
The challenge then was in the organization of this material into a useful curriculum for the classroom. As I read more and more books pertaining to various children’s books and novels and adult literature on social justice issues relating to children, I got so inspired by the many young people who are making a change in this world. Their acts of compassion, generosity and passion fuelled me further and enticed me to find a way to create a curriculum that gave credit to each of these amazing individuals while empowering all children with knowledge of their rights, and instilling in them the desire and hope that they have the power to change this world in their pursuit of justice and love for true peace (Maria Montessori). The initial curriculum structure was inspired by the book UNICEF book A Life Like Mine. Since then, Children’s Rights Education has expanded in vision and structure. The final goal of this curriculum is to make it available to teachers around the world, so that they can use it to empower our global child citizens to stand together for in their pursuit of justice and peace.
Lesley Friedmann
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
It all started with an assignment that was due in Literature in the Classroom. We were asked to present a commercial for a picture book, and I had selected One Hen by Katie Smith Milway. I had thought to expand this picture book project into the next assignment, which was a genre or author study of approximately 4 picture books. As I was taking Environmental Studies, it seemed a good idea to use these assignments to document what I was learning in the Environmental Studies course for future reference. I was intrigued to explore the literature pertaining to global food systems and its environmental impact our modern production of food as documented in children's literature.
Well, things started to snowball from then on. I explored the One Hen website (www.onehen.org) and discovered an exciting interactive resource for students to explore the concept of micro-financing. I had also acquired the book A Life Like Mine by UNICEF documenting, in simplistic language with incredible visuals, the Conventions on the Rights of the Child. It became very clear to me that the rights of children globally are impacted by our production of food in the western, industrialized world.
The challenge then was in the organization of this material into a useful curriculum for the classroom. As I read more and more books pertaining to various children’s books and novels and adult literature on social justice issues relating to children, I got so inspired by the many young people who are making a change in this world. Their acts of compassion, generosity and passion fuelled me further and enticed me to find a way to create a curriculum that gave credit to each of these amazing individuals while empowering all children with knowledge of their rights, and instilling in them the desire and hope that they have the power to change this world in their pursuit of justice and love for true peace (Maria Montessori). The initial curriculum structure was inspired by the book UNICEF book A Life Like Mine. Since then, Children’s Rights Education has expanded in vision and structure. The final goal of this curriculum is to make it available to teachers around the world, so that they can use it to empower our global child citizens to stand together for in their pursuit of justice and peace.
Lesley Friedmann
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada