Time to start planning for the new year (Nov 2009)

Time to start planning for the new year (Nov 2009)

Negotiated Rights and Responsibilities Agreements (or ‘contracts' or ‘treaties') are a proven ‘behaviour management tool' used in many New Zealand classrooms and schools. When explicitly linked to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (recommended for primary) or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (secondary) as part of a structured learning process, they have a much greater impact. As one child said in Hampshire, ‘Our classroom charter is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is better than rules because they are for all the time.' It can not only establish the basis for harmonious classrooms and schools, the process can also act as a powerful lesson in how human rights declarations and treaties are negotiated and maintained (linking for example to a range of Social Studies achievement objectives).

Learning about specific ‘human rights' at the beginning of the school year can help set the scene for other learning:

Eg Everyone has the rights to rest and play, and the highest attainable standard of health (physical  education)

• Everyone has the right to enjoy the arts
• Everyone has the right to share in share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
• Everyone has duties to the community.

Class collaboration on the production of school posters in the context of English, Art, and Social Studies lessons can be a great way to encourage interaction in new classes and result in tools that reinforce the human rights and responsibilities message throughout the school.