Rights Respecting Schools: Transforming Canadian Schools Welcome to our presentation on the Rights Respecting Schools initiative. Thanks so much for your interest in what we are doing in Canada right now – hopefully we provide you with a fairly clear picture of how this model has worked, and how it could work in XXX schools. The purpose of this presentation is to give you an overview of what a Rights Respecting School is, its educational and social benefits, how this program fits into the XXX education system, and what support schools receive who participate in this programme.

What is a Rights Respecting School (RRS)? The Rights Respecting Schools initiative is a framework for educational improvement that aims to transform the whole learning environment with a consistent, rights-based approach. Rights Respecting Schools is a whole school initiative that uses the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a basis for building an inclusive and respectful school culture. In these schools children’s rights are adopted as guiding principles that inform a common set of values shared by all members of the school community. These common values create a sense of community and become the lens through which students, teachers, school administrators and parents make decisions, choose behaviour, and participate at their school.

Children’s rights are fulfilled and protected in Canadian schools The Ultimate Outcome Educational policies, practices and decisions are all made in the best interest of the child Children’s rights are fulfilled and protected in Canadian schools

Impacts of Rights Respecting Education FOR STUDENTS Improved self-esteem and well-being Improved relationships and behaviour Improved engagement in learning Positive attitudes towards diversity in society Reduction in prejudice Enhanced moral understanding Support for global justice “When you are talking people listen to you and they don’t interrupt. They give you the right to speak up.” Daniella, Grade 5 , Cape Horn For example, in the UK, where there are over 1600 schools that participate in a similar program to Rights Respecting Schools in Canada. Research conducted by the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex in these rights-respecting schools has demonstrated the following impacts of rights-respecting education:   Improved self-esteem and well-being Improved relationships and behaviour (reductions in bullying and exclusions and improved attendance) Improved engagement in learning Positive attitudes towards diversity in society and the reduction of prejudice Children and young people’s enhanced moral understanding Children and young people’s support for global justice

What Students and Teachers Say “…a Rights Respecting School gives children power and a sense of knowing that their voice can be heard, and makes a difference” Shalini Mehra, Grade One teacher Cape Horn School, Coquitlam BC “We know how to respect each other…we actually know why and how we are respecting that person, we are listening to what they are telling us, we are being kind to everyone. It’s pretty awesome.” Allie, Grade 5 Cape Horn School, Coquitlam BC

Rights Respecting Schools Overview Although the process to becoming a Rights Respecting School is organic and unique to each school community, experience has demonstrated that a set of clear and easy-to-follow steps will guide each school’s journey to success. The following seven steps are based upon UNICEF Canada’s pilot Rights Respecting Schools and UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award. A RRS Facilitator supports schools through the Steps of Becoming a RRS by Step 1: Presenting the Initiative to the school community Step 2: Working with the school to establish the Children’s Right’s Team Step 3: Working with the Children’s Rights Team to conduct the Initial Rights Assessment Step 4: Delivering workshops to the school community (staff and parents) Step 5: Working with the Children’s Rights Team to Develop the RRS Action Plan Step 6: Providing support and access to resources to help the school implement the RRS Action Plan Step 7: Working with the Children’s Rights Team to assess and reflect on the implementation of the Action Plan.

Rights Respecting Schools Building Blocks The RRS model is designed on four building blocks. (Refer to the screen). Each building block has clear objectives and benchmarks which are used to help a school design their action plan and evaluation success on implementation.

The Tools to Make it Happen: RRS Toolkit for Canadian Schools Teacher Activities and Guides Online Resources Professional Education Staff Support Rights Respecting Schools receive the following supports: A toolkit providing a detailed account of the steps and building blocks that cultivate a Rights Respecting School. A teacher guide which provides exemplar lessons for each grade on how to bring children’s rights into the existing curriculum as well as lessons on creating a classroom charter for each grade. (k-8) A Web site where schools can download program support resources and share good practice through a blog. Professional education staff that can facilitate, advise and support school leaders, teachers and students.

Rights-Respecting Students: Cape Horn Elementary School Show the video Canada’s First Rights Respecting School (6:14) available under ‘Videos’ at: rightsrespectingschools.ca

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