Taking Your Human Rights Temperature

FEATURED CURRICULA:
Lifting the Spirit:
Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief

ABC - Teaching Human Rights: Practical activities for primary and secondary schools

TAKING THE HUMAN RIGHTS TEMPERATURE OF YOUR SCHOOL:

THE INTERACTIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

Directions: Take the human rights temperature of your school. Read each statement and assess how accurately it describes your school community in the blank next to it. (Keep in mind all members of your school: students, teachers, administators, staff. ) At the end, total up your score to determine your overall assessment score for your school.

RATING SCALE
1 - no/never
2 - rarely
3 - often
4 - yes/always

1. My school is a place where students are safe and secure. (Art. 3 & 5)

2. All students receive equal information and encouragement about academic and career opportunities. (Art. 2)

3. Members of the school community are not discriminated against because of their life style choices, such as manner of dress, associating with certain people, and non-school activities. (Art. 2 & 16)

4. My school provides equal access, resources, activities, and scheduling accommodations for all individuals. (Art. 2 & 7)

5. Members of my school community will oppose discriminatory or demeaning actions, materials, or slurs in the school. (Art. 2, 3, 7, 28, & 29)

6. When someone demeans or violates the rights of another person, the violator is helped to learn how to change his/her behavior. (Art. 26)

7. Members of my school community care about my full human as well as academic development and try to help me when I am in need. (Art. 3, 22, 26 & 29)

8. When conflicts arise, we try to resolve them through non- violent and collaborative ways. (Art. 3, 28)

9. Institutional policies and procedures are implemented when complaints of harassment or discrimination are submitted. (Art. 3 & 7)

10. In matters related to discipline (including suspension and expulsion), all persons are assured of fair, impartial treatment in the determination of guilt and assignment of punishment. (Art. 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10)

11. No one in our school is subjected to degrading treatment or punishment. (Art. 5)

12. Someone accused of wrong doing is presumed innocent until proven guilty. (Art. 11 )

13. My personal space and possessions are respected. (Art. 12 & 17)

14. My school community welcomes students, teachers, administrators, and staff from diverse backgrounds and cultures, including people not born in the USA. (Art. 2, 6,13, 14 & 15)

15. I have the liberty to express my beliefs and ideas (political, religious, cultural, or other) without fear of discrimination.(Art. 19)

16. Members of my school can produce and disseminate publications without fear of censorship or punishment. (Art. 19)

17. Diverse voices and perspectives (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, ideological) are represented in courses, textbooks, assemblies, libraries, and classroom instruction. (Art. 2, 19, & 27)

18. I have the opportunity to express my culture through music, art, and literary form. (Art. 19, 27 & 28)

19. Members of my school have the opportunity to participate (individually and through associations) in democratic decision-making processes to develop school policies and rules. (Art. 20, 21, & 23)

20. Members of my school have the right to form associations within the school to advocate for their rights or the rights of others. (Art. 19, 20, & 23)

21. Members of my school encourage each other to learn about societal and global problems related to justice, ecology, poverty, and peace. (Preamble & Art. 26 & 29)

22. Members of my school encourage each other to organize and take action to address societal and global problems related to justice, ecology, poverty, and peace. (Preamble & Art. 20 & 29)

23. Members of my school community are able to take adequate rest/recess time during the school day and work reasonable hours under fair work conditions. (Art. 23 & 24)

24. Employees in my school are paid enough to have a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being (including housing, food, necessary social services and security from unemployment, sickness and old age) of themselves and their families. (Art. 22 & 25)

25. I take responsibility in my school to ensure other individuals do not discriminate and that they behave in ways that promote the safety and well being of my school community. (Art. 1 & 29)

Created by:

D. Shiman & K. Rudelius-Palmer, Economic and Social Justice: A Human Rights Perspective (Minneapolis: Human Rights Resource Center, University of Minnesota, 1999)