There were some local events and the Coalition for Education against Discrimination prepares a letter to teachers and local activists related to this Day. You can read the letter here.

This year Human Rights Day highlights ’Freedoms,’ recalling the four freedoms that underlie the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two major human rights covenants (more about it here).

Why „freedoms”?

In his “four freedoms speech” in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered a vision. His wife, Eleonore, was instrumental in helping that vision find its way into human rights treaties. Both were instrumental in the creation of the United Nations, 70 years ago.

The slogan of the 2014 was „Human Rights 365„. It encompassed the idea that every day is Human Rights Day. For this reason the Center for Development of Education, Batory Fundation and Society for Education against Discrimination have organised on December, 10 (2014) conference „School without discrimination – safe school”.

I presented there the tool of teaching about realtions between minority and majority on example of Jews and Romas within the Open Space.

The conference was addressed mostly to teachers, directors of schools, educators. I observe a great need among Polish teachers to learn more about how to solve problems with discrimination at schools.

Society for Education against Discrimination coordinates the Coalition for Education against Discrimination. Get to know more about the activities of the Coalition or join it.
Fot. John Nakamura Remy. CC BY-SA 2.0

Fot. http://www.ngofund.org.pl/konferencja-szkola-bez-dyskryminacji-bezpieczna-szkola/

We learnt what we need to act against discrimination: knowledge, skills, reflection -> motivation to act. These reminds me of the concept of Swiss Johann Pestalozzi „head, heart and hand” [głowa, serce, ręka]. It means that our mind, feelings and actions should „act” together.

Mechanism of discrimination in short looks like this. / Mechanizm dyskryminacji w skrócie wygląda tak:

We shared some links related to discrimination and education:
1. History and human rights. Textbook – with workshoops about „state and individuum”, „minority-majority”, freedom of speech, rights of imprisoned people, social rights: in English, in Polish.
2. Antidiscrimination – educational materials in Polish: materials nr 1 or materials nr 2.
3. Textbook about hate speech „Bookmarks” – in English, in Polish.
4. School without discrimination – worksheets for teachers (in Polish): materials nr 1,
materials nr 2.
5. http://rownosc.info (in Polish) and http://rownosc.info/english/ (in English)
6. List of NGOs who deal with discrimination, migration, cultures etc: http://www.bezuprzedzen.org/linki/.
7. A method: „Parts of my identity” („Fragmenty mojej tożsamości”), worksheet.

It took place in Polish parlament in November’14, 28-29. 120 teachers and pupils took part on it. You also can do following things:

1. conduct a workshop about Karski,

2. organise a panel discussion about connecting historical and human rights education with representatives of ngo’s, administration and scientists,

3. organise an Open Space discussion related to the meaning of historical experiences in work against discrimination. You can discuss the interdisciplinary approach of connecting different fields.