Empowering Children: Children's Rights Education as a Pathway to Citizenship

Luke Lawson is a teacher and administrator in Vancouver, B.C.

In 1989, the United Nations approved the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child. Almost all countries, with the notable exception of the
United States, had ratified the document. The UN Declaration is the
foundation of this book. The authors, who have advocated greater
citizenship rights and participation for children worldwide, argue that
with a change in perspectives and attitudes—and the right teaching—
children will become vibrant, empowered citizens in society.

If only it were that easy. Many schools do, in fact, have organizations
and clubs that promote global and child citizenship (e.g., Student
Council, Amnesty International, Model United Nations, environmental
clubs, Habitat for Humanity). What the authors fail to acknowledge is
that giving children all sorts of rights can leave them with a sense of
entitlement in lieu of a sense of responsibility. Children need
boundaries and limitations.

Finally, the authors need to differentiate more clearly between the
rights of children in affluent countries like Canada and the rights (or
lack thereof) of children in impoverished nations.