Re: HRE - what can someone be called who does it?



Dear HRE colleagues,

Its my first time to write to this forum, thanks to you all for your
commitmet in HRE, this is evident from the ongoing online discussion
around HRE. I am responding in relation to Pablo's email wherein he refers
to Paulo Freire. I think that Freire's ideas are grounded and more
applicable to really support a communal way of living even with regard to
education posed as open to dialogic culture, listening and learning from
each other.

Does any one know of any HRE work that is going on in Southern Africa, in
coutries such as Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho etc, except South Africa
which is where I am based?

Regards and keep up the good work.

Sarah Motha
Human Rights Education Coordinator
Amnesty International South Africa
Kutlwanong Democracy Centre
357 Visagie Street,Pretoria
P.O.Box 29083,Sunnyside,0132
Tel: +27 (0)12 320 8155
Fax:+27 (0)12 320 8158
Cell:+27(0)84 765 5930
Email: <      >

 

-----Original Message-----
On Friday, April 14, 2006, Pablo Zavala Sarrio wrote:

Dear friends:

Thank you for your ideas.

I agree with Joe about keeping in mind the etymological roots of the word
education, and therefore how to understand our work as "educators".

Here, I would like to remember Paulo Freire's ideas when he says (not
literally), "no one educates by him or herself... nobody educates anybody
", because, "education is a process of human interaction in which we learn
from each other".

I think that, particularly, in the field of HRE we need to asume this
ideas.

Keep well,

Pablo Zavala Sarrio
Av. Trinidad Morán 1340, Lince
Telefaxes 422.7911 / 422.7912 / 460 9444

 

On Wednesday, April 12, 2006 7:14 AM, Joseph Wronka wrote:

 I suppose I like calling someone who does human rights education,
just that: a Human Rights Educator. But, when we speak of "educator,"
we must keep in mind its etymological roots. One root comes from the
first declension Latin word, educo, educare, which means "to grow,
nourish, strengthen"; another root is from the second declension
educo, educere which means "to lead out of." Thus, a true "educator"
is actually someone who commits her or himself to the human
development of all students, a fundamental thrust of human rights
documents. Thus, in my view, any educator in some sense is a "human
rights educator," if he or she as a leader, is committed to
fulfilling human rights principles, as defined in part by the
Universal Declaration and its progeny, that is, later covenants and
declarations.

 But, sadly, education does not appear to help us or others grow, but
rather socializes us into accepting certain "givens," like war, the
impossibility of health care and security in old age for all, or the
selfishness of the human condition. These are not givens, but rather
represent choices, totally inimical to human growth and potential.
What we used to call the "military industrial complex" (actually a
term of President Eisenhower), perhaps should be the
"military-educational industrial complex," for it is highly
"educated" people that are persisting in waging war, destroying,
rather than enhancing human life and dignity. Have we really
progressed from some sadistic, and educated guards and, at times,
health personnel, in concentration camps who would at times engage in
torture for pleasure?

 

 

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