Collateral human rights learning situations: what are they?

Abstract

This article furthers pedagogical knowledge on educating children about their human rights, specifically in school contexts, with the aim of elucidating the features and the collateral learning of educative situations through which children are supported to grow as rights-holders. The data, obtained from fieldwork in three Year 1 classes in Swedish schools, were analysed drawing on John Dewey´s theory of experience, growth and collateral learning. The findings show that, in everyday classroom interactions, teachers’ actions have implications for human rights learning. Four categories of collateral content were identified: a) Experience and respect equal value; b) Form, express and respect opinions; c) Take part and participate in individual and collective matters; d) Demonstrate understanding, and tolerance. It is argued that teachers’ pedagogical actions support children’s human rights learning in various everyday situations in the classroom, often in unintended and unplanned ways.