Human rights teaching in the secondary school

Abstract

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights alongside other international texts sets a standard for what rights humans are entitled to. The importance of justifications and support for human rights teaching will be analysed. Consequently an attempt will be made to enlist the major aims and objectives of such an innovatory programme. Orientation and focus points of the content will emerge. The history of human rights and the content and significance . of modern statements of rights will form the basic bulk of the content. Besides this factual content, three main areas of the curriculum content are attitudes, concepts and skills. Three important strategies are developed. Firstly the deliberate structuring of the hidden curriculum is based on participation by the members. The general structure and practices are to reflect a concern for the values which under pin human rights. Secondly, the curriculum strategy will integrate human rights in social studies allowing for other subjects on the school timetable to contribute to human rights teaching. Diverse methods and materials are required including questioning techniques, discussion and project work.