Dear Friends,

December 10 was an important day to reflect upon the normative standards granted to us by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Please take a moment out of your day to contemplate the following articles pertaining to the UDHR and consider how we, as educators, might work to more fully realize these rights throughout our teaching and how we can work to achieve these rights for others around the world.

December 10
International Human Rights Day

Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

-Universal Declaration of Human Rights
December 10, 1948

With hopes for peace and justice for the future,
The Peace Education Center
Tony Jenkins
Coordinator
Peace Education Center
Teachers College - Box 171
Columbia University
New York, New York 10027
tel: (212) 678-8116 fax: (212) 678-8237
web: www.tc.edu/PeaceEd