Launch of Human Rights Education: Reflections on Theory and Practice
St. Patricks College
23rd of May
The launch of Human Rights Education: Reflections on Theory and Practice, which is edited by Dr Fionnuala Waldron and Brian Ruane of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education at St Patrick’s took place on Monday 23rd May. The book features contributions from from other St. Patrick's College staff, University of Washington, Seattle, PHZ Lucerne, and the Institute of Education, London.
Dr. Colm Ó Cuanacháin, Senior Campaigns Director with Amnesty International Secretariat officially launched the book and in his speech reflected on the nature and importance of human rights education nationally and internationally. Drawing on his own experience as a primary school principal, Dr. Ó Cuanacháin noted the transformative potential of human rights education, its positive impact on students, and on the practice of education within the school. He complemented the editors and authors of the book for highlighting the importance of such issues and for producing an informative and highly readable text. He went on to say that the launch of the book illustrated the significant leadership of the staff of St Patrick’s College in promoting human rights education in Ireland and further afield.
Brian Ruane remarked that the book not only contained important chapters by significant theorists in the field of HRE but also reflected the important contribution made by staff of the college in both teaching and research in this area. Dr Fionnuala Waldron, Dean of Education and Chair of Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (CHRCE) at St. Patrick's College noted the contribution made by authors and reviewed the achievements to date of the CHRCE.
Contributors to the book include: Anne Marie Kavanagh, Catherine Maunsell, Paula Murphy, Maurice O'Reilly, Susan Pike, Anita Prunty (all St Patrick’s College), James A. Banks (University of Washington, Seattle), Peter Kirschlaeger (PHZ Lucerne), Hugh Starkey (Institute of Education, London) and Fintan McCutcheon (Graduate of Ed. D programme, St. Patrick’s College).
Launch of The Just Children story sack
UCC
7th of April
The Just Children story sack, a resource for exploring global justice issues in early childhood education, was launched on Thursday 7th April in University College Cork as part of the International Conference on Early Childhood in Developing World Contexts. The resource was produced by the Education for a Just World partnership between the CHRCE and Trócaire.
The Story Sack was launched by Arlene Forster, Director, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), Eamonn Meehan, Trocaire and Dr Fionnuala Waldron, Dean of Education St Patrick's College and attended by the Conference participants and early childhood educators at Primary and Pre-school level who helped to develop the resource. A paper entitled Education for a Just World, detailing the work of the partnership, the research undertaken which laid the foundations for the Story Sack and the process involved in the Story Sack's development was also presented at the Conference by the partnership.
Diversity and Education:
Experiences from Irish and American Contexts
B139 St Patrick's College, Drumcondra
4:00 pm
St. Patrick’s College in cooperation with U.S. Embassy Dublin hosted a panel of American and Irish educators to discuss 'Diversity and Education - Experiences from Irish and American Contexts'.
Ms. Nadine Hall and Ms. Mary Mary Healy discussed best practices and biggest challenges of diversity education as educators.
Mr. Brian Ruane offered a perspective on diversity in teacher education and professional development.
The session was chaired by Dr. Fionnuala Waldron, Dean of Education and Chair of Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education, St. Patrick's College.
Seminar Documents
Past Events
Seminar Series 2009
St Patricks’ College welcomed internationally prominent educationalists who delivered public lectures on children’s rights and education during the month of November 2009. The lectures were given by Dr Hugh Starkey, Institute of Education, University of London, Gerison Lansdown, International Consultant on Children’s Rights and Dr Dympna Devine, University College, Dublin. The lectures will take place from 6pm to 7.30pm in Room D115 in St Patrick's College on November 5th, 12th and 19th.
Human Rights Education for a Sustainable Future:Celebrating 60 years of the UDHR
In September 2008 the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education, Amnesty International (Irish Section) and the Irish National Teachers Organisation hosted a human rights education conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The conference was opened by celebrated author and human rights activist, Roddy Doyle.
A highlight of the conference was a public lecture by Professor James A. Banks, Professor of Diversity Studies and Director of the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Keynote speakers included Hugh Starkey, Institute of Education, University of London, Ursula Kilkelly and Laura Lundy.
Other contributors included Professor Audrey Osler, Prof. Colum Kenny,Katherine Zappone and Brigid McManus, Secretary General, Department of Education and Science. The conference offered a range of workshops and seminars on research and practice in human rights education. Global and local issues were explored along with the challenges and opportunities posed for education.
9-10 February 2007
A commemorative conference to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Conference programme included a public lecture by Professor James Walvin, University of York and keynote addresses by Aidan McQuade, Anti-Slavery International, Professor Luke Gibbons, Notre Dame University and Nini Rogers, Queen's University Belfast.
The conference included a range of workshops addressing contemporary and historical manifestations of slavery. These workshops were hosted by the Africa Centre, Amnesty International Irish Section, Anti-slavery International and Trócaire. Two educational workshops were hosted by St. Patrick's College. Biographies of speakers and facilitators can be downloaded here.
This conference was a joint initiative of the History Department, St. Patrick's College, the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education, Ireland, Amnesty International, Irish Section, Trócaire and The Africa Centre. It was funded by Irish Aid and St. Patrick's College.
An exhibition on historic and contemporary slavery created for the conference will be made available to interested venues from May 2007. For more details contact daire.keogh@spd.dcu.ie
Rights, Respect & Responsibilities
25 May 2006
A half day seminar “Rights, Respect and Responsibilities’ was held in St. Patrick’s College. It was addressed by Ian Massey, John Clarke and Carolyn Clarke of Hampshire Children’s Services which is involved in developing new practice on rights-based education in the UK and by Fintan McCutcheon, principal of Balbriggan Educate Together primary school.
Seminar on Human Rights Education
4 February 2005
A whole day staff seminar on human rights education and initial teacher education. The seminar was addressed by Professor Audrey Osler, CCHRE, Leeds University and Dr. Colm Ó Cuanacháin, Amnesty International, Irish Section. The facilitator for this seminar was Colette O'Regan.