The School for Human Rights is featured today in an article in the The New York Times and other national newspapers. Associated Press writes: “The School for Human Rights is one of nearly 150 ‘small’ public schools that opened through special initiatives in New York City in the last three years. While it’s normal to find human rights discussed in schools (a segment on the Holocaust is a classic lesson) a whole academy built around the concept is rare. This one is being watched carefully by groups such as Amnesty International USA and Human Rights Education Associates, which have long sought ways to influence educational curricula and were involved in the school’s planning.” Read the full article on-line
A combined middle and high school, The School for Human Rights in Brooklyn, New York, offers an integrated academic and social skills-based curriculum to challenge its students to think critically and become compassionate, socially engaged young adults committed to the practice of equity, dignity and social consciousness. Human rights values are evident not only in classroom teaching, but in the school’s commitment to meeting the educational needs of every student and practices such as ‘discipline with dignity.’ HREA is proud to be the lead partner of The School for Human Rights and supports teachers and other staff with resources and professional development.
In September 2005 the School started its second year of operation and will have well over 180 students. The School can look back at a successful first year with teaching practices that infuse human rights and extra-curricular activities like film festivals, workshops with human rights defenders, and celebrations of international days such as Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Ha-Shoah). The School is funded in part by a grant from New Visions for Public Schools, an education reform foundation dedicated to improving the quality of education in New York City’s public schools.