
REFLECTING ON RIGHTS
November 20th was Universal Children’s Day, and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Convention on the Rights of the Child UIS invited a special guest speaker.
Lawyer (and UIS Parent!) Federica Tosel came and dedicated her time to explain what rights children have, but also to make it clear that with these rights come responsibilities. “We are given an education but we have the responsibility to do our best every day.”
Grade One have been discussing and questioning what needs and wants are. They have been sorting statements into needs or wants. Needs are what we need to survive, to have a full life. We all have basic needs, which we cannot live without. Then there are things that we want but don’t need to survive. Every child has rights to these basic needs, whatever their ethnic background, religion, gender, language or ability. Children must be informed of their rights so that they can speak up when their own, or someone else’s rights, are not being respected.
Mrs Tosel played some games with us to help us understand that not everything that makes us feel good is a need. As the children walked out of the assembly they reflected on how lucky they are to live in a country that supports their rights and also thought about the children living in other parts of the world who are not as fortunate.
We were given a bracelet and asked to write what we can do to help… there is so much we can do every day. Being kind to one another and being respectful of each other’s beliefs is a great place to start.
Ms Daniela
Grade 1 teacher
Daniela DiBiaggio
Grade 1 teacher