By Brian M. Boyce
TERRE HAUTE — “How many of you want to make society better? How many of you want to make the world better?” Jenna Lydick asked a room full of children as hands shot into the air.
Lydick, a guidance counselor at Rio Grande Elementary School, is one of several in the Vigo County School Corp. implementing a new program focused on human rights. The topic, all involved said, has been “empowering.”
“Most people don’t know that they have human rights, let alone 30 of them,” explained Lost Creek Elementary teacher Debbie Smudde, whose teacher in-service presentation last October has been credited with launching the corporation-wide program.
In 1948, the United Nations adopted a set of 30 universal rights, applicable to all humans regardless of nationality. Authored in part by Eleanor Roosevelt, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ranges in scope from the right to life to freedom from discrimination and wrongful imprisonment.
But outside the context of international affairs, most Americans spend little time thinking about these, a problem in which Smudde saw opportunity after viewing a DVD titled “Youth for Human Rights.”
The DVD contains 30 public service announcements, skits and mini-dramas which bring topics like discrimination down to everyday life in the homes and classrooms of children.
“It’s fabulous,” the first-grade teacher said, describing the discussions she took to the corporation’s guidance counselors.
And the counselors took it from there.
Michelle Kirby works with students at Ouabache Elementary and said so far, the program is a hit.
“For the first year, I think it went very well,” she said.
Kirby incorporates the concept of human rights into every facet of the learning process, from the kickball field to history. “I mention it all the way through, K-5.”
First- and second-grade students might not understand what the United Nations is, but when it comes to the playground, they know every student is welcome to join a game, regardless of their appearance, she said. And now they understand it’s not just a matter of etiquette, but one of humanity.
“I think it works really well,” she said.
At Rio Grande, Lydick organized her “Friendly Helpers,” 17 fourth- and fifth-grade students who assist her throughout the school. The group collected 1,000 signatures from individuals to whom they explained the 30 rights. The students also performed a 15-minute skit on the topic for their classmates.
Lydick, like others, described the experience as “empowering.”
“They can’t stand up for their own rights without standing up for someone else’s,” she said, noting the excitement shown by kids when they learn that they, too, have rights deemed important enough to warrant a declaration by the United Nations. “I feel our skit had a huge impact,” she said, adding that lectures on bullying come a lot easier when awareness is made at this level.
Hannah Bunch, 10, and Heidi Mattick, 10, are fourth-graders who presented their lessons on human rights to school Superintendent Dan Tanoos.
“It was fun,” Bunch said of the meeting.
Both said the right known as Article 2, the entitlement to all rights regardless of race, color, sex, religion or other demographic, is their favorite.
“Because no matter who you are, or how different you are, you can play,” Mattick said.
Carol Crain, a counselor at Farrington Grove Elementary, incorporated the program into her “No Bullies” clubs there.
“I thought the idea of the human rights would be a good lead-in to preparing them for fourth grade,” she said of the work done with third-graders.
Crain’s students made their own books explaining the scenarios in which human rights are applicable, a project which found its way into the Human Rights Fair at Indiana State University.
One student’s mother attends ISU, Crain said, explaining the networking involved, which eventually brought them into contact with Sister Helen Prejean, the nun whose work against the death penalty inspired the movie “Dead Man Walking.”
Prejean, who spoke at ISU’s Human Rights Day, even met with some of her students, Crain said.
“It’s contagious, isn’t it,” said Libby Hendricks, the mother of a student who proudly displays the book he authored on human rights on a shelf in their home.
Hendricks was at Rio Grande Elementary on Wednesday as Lydick’s “Friendly Helpers” celebrated their 1,000 signatures with brownies and punch. “It’s just incredible. It’s just so empowering for the children to be exposed to this education,” she said, noting how excited her son and others are to learn how the rights of mankind extend from the courtroom to the playground.
Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.
