Listen "Episode 61: Bill Fernekes, Part Two"
Episode Synopsis
In Part Two, Bill Fernekes emphasizes the need to balance theory and practice in human rights education (HRE), advocating for curriculum transformation grounded in dignity and decolonization. He explores the link between human rights, public policy, and poverty, highlighting programs like the California Task Force and Human Rights Close to Home. Bill stresses that HRE should empower—not indoctrinate—students. He critiques the U.S. for not ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and envisions its integration into education. Looking ahead, he supports expanding the podcast’s scope with new hosts and more youth involvement. He honors role models Nancy Flowers and Paul Robeson, emphasizing the power of lived values and universal advocacy. Bill calls for mandatory human rights education in all teacher licensure and professional training programs, closing with gratitude and reflections on the importance of resisting injustice.Topics Discussed:Balancing HRE theory and practice; curriculum transformation and dignityDecolonizing education and connecting HRE to public policy and povertyAdvocacy vs. indoctrination in educational settingsUN Convention on the Rights of the Child: U.S. resistance and educational potentialPodcast future: Dialogues, youth voices, and expansion beyond K–12Role models: Nancy Flowers and Paul Robeson’s lasting influenceKey recommendation: Require HRE in all teacher licensure and training programsFinal reflections and closing acknowledgmentsFull topic listing available for PDF download HERE.Listen on our HREUSA podcast website HERE. Introduction and Closing Music Credit: “Awakening-Spring” by Ketsa, from the Album Night Vision. Available at the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/night-vision/awakening-spring/ This music is used in accordance with this Creative Commons License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Information about that license is available here https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Human Rights Education Now! is produced and distributed in accordance with Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International. Information about this license is available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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