CORE QUESTIONS:
- Why does the world require human rights for children?
- How can the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
assist to eradicate the abuses placed upon the children
of the world?
- How does the USA apply the articles of the CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD?
OVERVIEW:In order for the rights
found in the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
to be effective, and make a personal impact with students,
the students must be able to examine the very issues
and abuses the articles wish to abolish. Once the
incidents of abuse against children have been identified,
students will be afforded a better understanding as
to why the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD is
needed. In addition, students can explore the articles
to identify their intended resolutions.
TIME: Approximately 45 minutes.
GRADE LEVEL: Grades 7-12.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS: Geography
NEW JERSEY CORE CURRICULUM
STANDARDS: 6.1 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.8
OBJECTIVES:
- Students will understand the need for the CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.
- Students will work cooperatively in groups to solve problems.
- Students will examine the global incidents infringing
upon children’s rights.
- Students will apply the articles of the CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD to resolve issues of
poverty, discrimination, and abuse.
- Students will be able to identify USA’s level of
participation in the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF
THE CHILD treaty.
- Students will be able to describe the struggle and
strife felt by their global peers.
STRATEGIES:
Kick-Off Questions:
- Why does the world require human rights for children?
- How can the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
assist to eradicate the abuses placed upon the children
of the world?
- Discussion
Activity:
Distribute a summary of the articles in the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE
CHILD (Teacher should prepare a summary sheet
after consulting the web site for the document.
Distribute the handout citing incidents of abuse on
children’s rights—You can access it by clicking
on this link and it will open up in Microsoft
Word and then you can print a copy for yourself and
get photocopies made).
Read through the first incident together.
- Ask students to examine the articles and cite what articles are in violation
- Answers may vary—discuss differences in opinion among your students
Then instruct students to work cooperatively to complete
the handout. After completion, discuss answers. Ask
students to express their reactions to the lives lived
by children of other nations. How does their life
compare to yours?
Final question is on the USA:
Students should respond that the incident violates the CONVENTION
ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.
Explain that in fact the USA does not violate the treaty technically
because the USA has yet to ratify the CONVENTION ON
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD (the Senate must approve it
by a 2/3rds majority) so the USA is not bound to
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.
Discussion:
Discuss with students the three types of rights found in the
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD:
Provision
Protection
Participation
Ask students to explain where these rights are found in the USA
Provision – health care, standard of living, education, protection of privacy
Protection – exploitation, discrimination, juvenile justice
Participation – survival, development
Closing discussion:
Lead students in a discussion as to why the USA has not
signed the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD?
What would the USA have to do in order to sign the
treaty? Direct students to understand that the USA
would have to accept that the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS
OF THE CHILD has the power to override national laws
if the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD laws
maintain higher standards. For example, the USA
currently believes, higher education and health care
to be privileges. The USA also tries child criminals
as adults, potentially sentencing children to die.
How would life in America change if the USA were to
adopt the CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD?
MATERIALS:
RESOURCES:
Websites:
Print:
- Balton, David A., Human Rights in the Classroom: Teaching
The Convention on the Rights of the Child,
Social Education, The National Council for the Social
Studies 1992,Volume 56(4), pp. 210-212.
- Cantwell, Nigel, Conventionally Theirs: An Overview of
the Origins, Content, and Significance of the Convention
on he Rights of the Child, Social Education,
The National Council for the Social Studies,1992,Volume
56(4),pp. 207-210.
- Edmonds, Beverly C., The Convention on the Rights of the
Child: A Point of Departure, Social Education,
The National Council for the Social Studies,1992,Volume
56(4), pp. 205-207.
- Miljeteig-Olsen, Per,Children’s Participation: Giving Children
the Opportunity to Develop into Active and Responsible
Members of Society, Social Education, The National
Council for the Social Studies,1992, Volume 56(4),
pp. 216.
ASSESSMENT:
The worksheet could be collected for a class work grade.
Otherwise assessment will consist of discussion and
questioning. Teacher will also assess the students understanding
of the use and application of the CONVENTION ON THE
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD by examining student responses
to the handout.
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