[hr-education-na] Democracy and Diversity: Principles and Concepts for Educating Students in a Global Age

Dear Colleagues,

I just returned from the annual meeting of the Comparative and
International Education Society (CIES) where I learned about an important
new report that furthers the cause of human rights education in K-12
schools. Professor James Banks, well-known for his work in multicultural
education, created a panel comprised of educational researchers from the
U.S., U.K, and Canada (with a more extensive international review panel)
to examine the principles and concepts students need to become effective
citizens in a global context. In their report, Democracy and Diversity,
the panelists make extensive references to the UDHR and assert the need to
teach this document to all students. The guidelines include a section
specifically addressing the teaching of human rights as essential to
courses in citizenship education.

You can download "Democracy and Diversity" from
http://depts.washington.edu/centerme/home.htm . (it is under "New
Publications"). I found it to be a very well-considered report on the need
for balance between often fiercely debated dichotomies such as
unity/diversity, nationalism/globalism, and patriotism/cosmopolitanism.
Especially in the U.S., where the notion of human rights is often viewed
as a threat to U.S. hegemony, such a document is greatly needed.

J. Lynn McBrien, Ph.D.
Psychological and Social Foundations of Education
University of South Florida
5700 N. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota. FL 34243
941-359-4635

 

 

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