My subject line, "Is it on the test? Should we be teaching about human rights?", is intended to prompt discussion. I've heard a lot lately from teachers that the subject matter tests are narrowing the curriculum considerably. Still, it occurs to me that there are a number of places where discussing human rights is absolutely essential. For example, looking at the philosophies emerging in early civilizations, shouldn't we ask what rights were reserved to ordinary people, shouldn't we ask what standards for punishment, etc. were upheld? No one teaching about the 20th century or the contemporary world, of course, can escape the need to discuss how political systems protected, expanded or squelched rights. How has economic change affected the rights of labor? How have the rights of women and children been affected by dramatic if historically recent political, economic, and social changes?

If it sounds as though I think human rights might only be considered in social studies classes, I apologize, because it could be readily addressed throughout the curriculum. Reproductive rights might be discussed in the context of a math or science class looking at demographic change in Asia. Literature courses could readily include stories about violations of rights (Cultural Revolution memoirs from China, stories of growing up female in other places, tales of childhood under the Taliban...) or about struggles to assert rights or to protect them.

Most of you know where I'm heading with this. On February 7-8, 2004 we'll have a workshop, "Integrating Human Rights into the Curriculum: Using Asian Case Studies" on how you can incorporate human rights into your courses. The workshop will feature distinguished experts and activists and will provide you with materials you can adapt for your own needs. Please look at our web story about the workshop (http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/article.asp?parentid=5932).

UCLA Asia Institute
11288 Bunche Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487