Introduction

The questions below are adapted from the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The relevant UDHR articles are included parenthetically in each statement. Some of these issues correlate more directly to the UDHR than others. All of these questions are related to the fundamental human right to education found in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration:

Everyone has the right to education... Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

When discrimination is mentioned in the questionnaire below, it refers to a wide range of conditions: race, ethnicity/culture, sex, physical/intellectual capacities, friendship associations, age, culture, disability, social class/financial status, physical appearance, sexual orientation, life style choices, nationality, and living space. Although this is a much more expansive list than that found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is more helpful in assessing the human rights temperature in your school community.

The results should provide a general sense of the school’s climate in light of principles found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Directions

Take the human rights temperature of your school. Read each statement and assess how accurately it describes your school community in the blank next to it. Keep in mind all members of your school (e.g. students, teachers, administrators, staff.) At the end, total up your score to determine your overall assessment score for your school.

RATING SCALE

1 2 3 4 DN

no/never rarely often yes/always don’t know

Taking the Human Rights Temperature of Your School

____ 1. My school is a place where students are safe and secure. (Articles 3, 5)

____ 2. All students receive equal information and encouragement about academic and career opportunities. (Article 2)

____ 3. Members of the school community are not discriminated against because of their life style choices, such as manner of dress, association with certain people, and non-school activities. (Articles 2, 16)

____ 4. My school provides equal access, resources, activities, and scheduling accommodations for all individuals. (Articles 2, 7)

____ 5. Members of my school community will oppose discriminatory or demeaning actions, materials, or slurs in the school. (Articles 2, 3, 7, 28, 29)

____ 6. When someone demeans or violates the rights of another person, the violator is helped to learn how to change his/her behavior. (Article 26)

____ 7. Members of my school community care about my full human as well as academic development and try to help me when I am in need. (Articles 3, 22, 26, 29)

____ 8. When conflicts arise, we try to resolve them through non-violent ways. (Articles 3, 28)

____ 9. Institutional policies and procedures are implemented when complaints of harassment or discrimination are submitted. (Articles 3, 7)

____ 10. In matters related to discipline (including suspension and expulsion), all persons are assured of fair, impartial treatment in the determination of guilt and assignment of punishment. (Articles 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

____ 11. No one in our school is subjected to degrading treatment or punishment. (Article 5)

____ 12. Someone accused of wrong-doing is presumed innocent until proven guilty. (Article 11 )

____ 13. My personal space and possessions are respected. (Articles 12, 17)

____ 14. My school community welcomes students, teachers, administrators, and staff from diverse backgrounds and cultures, including people not born in the USA. (Articles 2, 6,13, 14, 15)

____ 15. I have the liberty to express my beliefs and ideas (political, religious, cultural, or other) without fear of discrimination. (Article 19)

____ 16. Members of my school can produce and disseminate publications without fear of censorship or punishment. (Article 19)

____ 17. Diverse voices and perspectives (e.g. sexual orientation, gender, race/ ethnicity, ideological) are represented in courses, textbooks, assemblies, libraries, and classroom instruction. (Articles 2, 19, 27)

____ 18. I have the opportunity to express my culture through music, art, and writing. (Articles 19, 27, 28)

____ 19. Members of my school have the opportunity to participate (individually and through associations) in democratic decision making processes to develop school policies and rules. (Articles 20, 21, 23)

____ 20. Members of my school have the right to form associations within the school to advocate for their rights or the rights of others. (Articles 19, 20, 23)

____ 21. Members of my school encourage each other to learn about societal and global problems related to justice, ecology, poverty, and peace. (Preamble & Articles 26, 29)

____ 22. Members of my school encourage each other to organize and take action to address societal and global problems related to justice, ecology, poverty, and peace. (Preamble & Articles 20, 29)

____ 23. Members of my school community are able to take adequate rest/recess time during the school day and work reasonable hours under fair work conditions. (Articles 23, 24)

____ 24. Employees in my school are paid enough to have a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being (including housing, food, necessary social services and security from unemployment, sickness and old age) of themselves and their families. (Articles 22, 25)

____ 25. I take responsibility in my school to ensure other individuals do not discriminate and that they behave in ways that promote the safety and well being of my school community. (Articles 1, 29)

TEMPERATURE POSSIBLE  =  100 HUMAN RIGHTS DEGREES

YOUR SCHOOL’S TEMPERATURE_______________