More information
Description
This project will address the problem of children not knowing their rights, and teachers not having the skills to address this issue. Meanwhile, research shows that one in ten children in Poland are unhappy – primarily due to problems at school and study overload. One in four children experience verbal abuse, and one in ten physical violence. Children feel that they have no say in decisions that affect them. On the other hand, children who do not know their rights do not know that their rights are abused and do not tell anyone. Moreover, the pandemic has been harmful in almost every sphere of children’s lives (increase in domestic violence, schoolwork overload). Materials will be produced on children’s rights for working with primary school children - including lesson plans and three animated films made by children presenting their point of view. The Project Promoter will test the materials in two workshops for teachers (twenty people). The project will culminate in a conference on children’s rights for approximately 100 teachers, combined with demo lessons and presentation of materials. The project will benefit primary school teachers in the Łódź region (approximately 100 people) and pupils who participate at the film-making or material testing stage (approximately 550 people). Teaching personnel will improve their knowledge and skills for conducting children’s rights classes, and will be more willing to raise the issue of children’s rights in schools. In turn, pupils will have specific tools to exercise their rights and seek support when they are not respected. The project partner is the Local Children’s Rights Defense Committee, which protects children against harm and breach of their rights. The Committee will be included in production of the teaching materials.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of children''s not knowing their rights and the lack of competence among teachers to address this topic at school. Meanwhile, according to research, one in ten children in Poland feels unhappy - among other things because of difficulties at school and an overload of learning. One in four children experiences verbal violence and one in ten experiences physical violence. Children feel that they have no influence over decisions concerning themselves. On the other hand, children who do not know their rights do not know that abuse is taking place and do not tell anyone about it. Moreover, the pandemic has had a negative impact on almost every area of children''s lives (e.g. increase in domestic violence, overload of school duties).
The project has produced materials on children''s rights to work with primary school pupils - including 3 animated films on children''s rights using the ideas and artwork of children from Primary School No. 44 in Łódź, as well as lesson plans for the films. The materials show the children''s perspective on this issue of children''s rights. The films and scenarios were presented at workshops for 20 teachers from 16 primary schools. These individuals then tested the materials with their male and female pupils. A total of 643 children took part in the test lessons. The project culminated in a conference on children''s rights for male and female teachers combined with demonstration lessons and a presentation of the materials. The project partner, the Territorial Committee for the Protection of Children''s Rights, was substantively involved in the preparation of educational materials.
The project benefited the teaching staff of primary schools in the Lodz region, primarily 20 trained teachers, as well as over 600 schoolchildren. The teaching staff improved their knowledge and skills in conducting classes on children''s rights, were motivated to take up the subject at school and to respect children''s rights in their work not only from the theoretical, but also practical side, taking into account the perspective and needs of children themselves. In turn, schoolchildren received concrete tools to exercise their rights and seek support when they are not respected.