While the draft curriculum removed all mention of human rights, it appears that arguments by Liberty and others, and the fundamental importance of these concepts, have prevailed. Human rights will now remain a part of citizen education, albeit in a significantly diminished position.
The idea of human rights is a vital part of British life, having shaped our history and still very much influencing our present. As the world reeled from the horror of the Nazi concentration camps in the years following the Second World War, there came an important realization that although fundamental rights should be respected as a matter of course, without formal protection human rights concepts are of little use to those facing persecution. Education about such rights and freedoms is vital at any time but especially now, when poisonous myths and posturing often trump proper information during debates in Westminster and the media.
If we want our youngsters to leave school as responsible citizens, teaching them about our proud human rights framework and the ideals which underpin it – human dignity, individual autonomy and non-discrimination – is essential. Children are inspired by such ideals and, in our experience, relish the chance to think about notions like human rights, as the winning entries from our school children’s writing competition, Write Human Rights indicate. Teachers also seem to agree with us, downloading our school education pack on human rights and our Common Values in Our Classrooms short film regularly.
We all want our kids to grow up to be active participants in what’s one of the oldest democracies in the world – for their own sakes. Maintaining the rightful place of human rights in the National Curriculum is an important step towards that future.
- For more information about Common Values, Liberty’s campaign to increase respect and understanding for the Human Rights Act and human rights values, visit www.commonvalues.org.uk
