IDEAS TO HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE PHILPPINE MULTICULTURAL CONTEXT1

Melijo Anthony I. Chan2

Filipinos face an imposed challenge of multiculturalism which further leads to the upholding of the principles of the human rights of every individual for the achievement of just and equal deal to classroom instruction. Human rights education changes the current and future classroomschanges that are based on strong philosophical orientations, a clear understanding of schools as social systems, and the importance of compassion and social justice and human rights in its utmost multicultural context. According to Carlos3 Human Rights has become an established reality since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, which has as its central concern reaffirmed its faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small. In other words, human rights being eternal part of the nature of human beings are essential for individuals to develop their personality, their human qualities, their intelligence, talent and conscience and to enable them
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Topical essay, IDEAS TO HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE PHILPPINE MULTICULTURAL CONTEXT a requirement under ED110 Summer 2012 and is submitted to Dr. Joharia Nicart 2 Melijo Anthony I. Chan, researcher, a graduate student of AB English 3 Carlos S.N., The Ethics of Human Rights, Clarindo Press Oxford, 1991.

to satisfy spiritual and other higher order needs. The purposes of securing human rights as such are to provide protection to these rights against the abuse of power committed by organs of state such; to promote institutions that promote the living conditions of human beings for the development of their personality and to provide effective remedial measures for obtaining redress in the event of these rights being violated. Furthermore, Human Rights are commonly understood as being those rights which are inherent to the human being. The concept of human rights acknowledges that every single human being is entitled to enjoy his or her human rights without distinction as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Human rights are legally guaranteed by human rights law, protecting individuals and groups against actions that interfere with fundamental freedoms and human dignity. They are expressed in treaties, customary international law, bodies of principles and other sources of law. Human rights law places an obligation on States to act in a particular way and prohibits States from engaging in specified activities. However, the law does not establish human rights. Human rights are inherent entitlements which come to every person as a consequence of being human. Human rights are universal, meaning that they are applied equally and without discrimination to all people; with this, people utilize a variety of

lenses when looking at issues. For example, Martin Luther King jr.s, orientation was heavily based upon civil rights and his religious beliefs. A primary lens utilized within ethic of carea moral commitment to care for and teach all students who also value trusting relationships with teachers who believe in them. The relationships that teachers and students create are critical in the learning process because these relationships form the context and motivation for growth. Additional lenses that form belief system include culture, community and social justice. Culture is critical because each student develops within a complex cultural context. In addition, learning occurs within the social environment in which there are continuous interactions with others. These interactions can serve to extend or clarify persons thinking. When students and teachers form a community based on social justice and compassion, they develop a unity devoted to building an equitable society. Education should encompass values such as peace, non-discrimination, equality, justice, non-violence, tolerance and respect for human dignity. Quality education based on a human rights approach means that rights are implemented throughout the whole education system and in all learning environments. Human rights education is an integral part of the right to education and is increasingly gaining recognition as a human right in itself. Knowledge

of rights and freedoms is considered a fundamental tool to guarantee respect for the rights of all. Finally, culturally relevant teachers should be committed to creating a society built on social justice. They are members of democracy and, as such, of allteachers and studentsneed to develop higher-order thinking skills that will allow them to address complex social and personal issues. Today more than ever, teachers must challenge oppression with compassion, collaboration and couragewhether in schools or the community in general.