On Saturday, November 14, I attended the Fourth Child Policy Forum of New York, presented by the Children's Studies Center and the Schomburg Center. The event was held at the Schomburg Center and focused on the human rights of children, as they relate to the 55th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the 20th anniversary of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The event began with a brief musical introduction by a small wind ensemble from P.S. 46, which was fitting as the group featured several children. Several individuals, including Howard Dodson, the director of the Schomburg Center, and Gertrud Lenzer, the director of the Children's Studies Center, then spoke briefly, adddressing the importance of the day's topic.
After these introductions, the keynote speakers began, starting with Owen M. Fiss, a professor at Yale University, who focused on Brown v. Board of Education and how this essentially began the "Second Reconstruction," in which the lives of African Americans began changing in all settings, not just education. From this point, he began discussing the need for a "Third Reconstruction" and what must happen within this to better the lives of children, especially in regards to their home lives and their education. Following Fiss, Howard Davidson presented his ideas regarding the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and why (or why not) some believe the U.S. should utilize this important piece of legislation.
After a short break, three members of the New York State Assembly and/or Senate took the stage and presented a number of items regarding more recent activities related to improving the rights of children, especially within the areas of human trafficking, as well as the use of foster care. They also addressed what needs to be done to continue to build on these rights with a focus on improvement of physical and mental health. After this, the forum ended with a brief question-and-answer session.
After thinking about all of the information and opinions adressed in this forum, I was suprised to learn that such a thing as the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child even existed and especially that it was completed twenty years ago. According to the individuals who spoke at the Forum, the U.S. played a large role in drafting the law articles, all of which focused on providing more rights to all children. Over fifty countries were involved in the CRC's creation, and over half of them have incorporated at least a portion of the laws into their countries' legal systems. I was shocked to learn that the U.S. is not included in this list of countries. How can our country criticize others for not protecting their children when several presidents refuse to incorporate the laws of the CRC here? The understanding that children are important does little without as many laws as possible in place to protect them.
The topic of the forum ties in well with what we are studying in this course. It addressed the importance of protecting the rights of children and ensuring they get the equity they deserve, something to constantly consider as a future teacher. Not only is it necessary to educate children in the proper manner but also to ensure they are not falling through the cracks, that each and every one of them has someone or something to hold onto as hope that they can and will become successful adults.
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This was shocking and kind of unbelievable, so I went on UNICEF website to explore further. It is intersesting that the only two governments in the world that didn't sign the CRC are the richest-US, and one of the poorest- Somalia.
ReplyDeleteThere is information that opposition (from the US government) to the convention is in part due to conflicts with the Constitution and because of opposition by political and religious conservatives- whatever that means. Predsident Obama says it's embarrassing and promises to review- I'm curious to see when and what happens.
(I guess I will say) in defense of the US:
Since 1989 the US has signed both of the optional protocols to the Convention. One is- Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (ensure that children are over 18, although I don't quite understand this because the US army recruits children younger than 18). The other- Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography (prohibited)-Thank goodness for small favors. Stela
Hey Casey, Wow, I never knew that the United States drafted the Convention yet never signed it, how ridiculous and embarrassing is that?!… I learned that the convention protects a child’s basic standards or human rights, which all children have. It is imperative that governments especially the United States respect their freedoms. By the United States not agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Conventions, it shows how the US views the protection of children’s health and social welfare as insignificant. Your posting reminds me how necessary it is that teachers are update to date with current events that affect the rights of our children. I find the topic of Children’s Rights to be a “taboo” topic of discussion in the United States; and this is something we can change as teachers by addressing it in our curriculum. As we have learned, ignoring the problem doesn’t do anything. A voice is needed to change these policies, and this can begin with us. I have learned how important as teacher that we make students aware of laws that affect their quality of life, so they too, can do something about it!
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