Resources for Universal Human Rights Month

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family.  While human rights need to be vigilantly protected every day, December is the month dedicated to reminding us of their importance.

If you want students to grow in their awareness and practice of human rights in their worlds and around the globe, PBS LearningMedia is a great resource. For example, exploring the price of truth in times of war, No More Tears Sister is a story of love, revolution and betrayal.  Set during the violent ethnic conflict that has enveloped Sri Lanka over decades, the film recreates the courageous and vibrant life of renowned human rights activist Dr. Rajani Thiranagama. Mother, anatomy professor, author and symbol of hope, Thiranagama’s commitment to truth and human rights led to her assassination at the age of 35.   Supporting materials include learning objectives, discussion guide and a lesson plan from Point of View (POV), award-winning, independent documentaries on PBS.

Among many other PBS LearningMedia resources, Elie Wiesel: First Person Singular: Making a Difference offers students the chance to discuss the impact individuals/leaders can have on communities, research tolerance and human rights activists, and undertake a project that will make a difference in the community.

If you have a resource for teaching human rights or a story about how a particular PBS program works well in your teaching, we’d be happy to hear from you and share a lovely gift in return.

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Treat yourself to POV’s KINGS OF PASTRY this Tuesday night on WGBY

After a long school year, perhaps we should treat ourselves to something sweet!  This week, you can find a special treat as WGBY debuts POV’s Kings of Pastry.

When Chris Hegedus and DA Pennebaker, award-winning filmmakers of The War Room, Startup.com and Don’t Look Back, turn their sights on the competition for the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, the country’s Nobel Prize for pastry, you’re in for a treat. In Kings of Pastry, 16 chefs, including Jacquy Pfeiffer, co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School, whip up the most gorgeous, delectable, gravity-defying concoctions and edge-of-your-seat drama as they deliver their spun-sugar desserts to the display table. The inevitable disasters and successes prove both poignant and hilarious. Check out the trailer below:

Catch Kings of Pastry on Tuesday, June 21, at 10pm on WGBY!

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Program Feature: POV’s “No More Questions!”

Are you a fan of StoryCorps?  If so, check this out:

Kay Wang was a strong-willed grandmother who was begrudgingly dragged into a StoryCorps booth by her son and granddaughter. Though Kay was reluctant, she still had stories to tell — from disobeying her mother and rebuffing suitors while growing up in China to late-life adventures as a detective for Bloomingdale’s Department Store. Kay passed away just weeks after that interview, and her son and granddaughter returned to StoryCorps to remember her gentler side, which she kept to herself.

This film will be shown as part of a series of short documentaries on August 23, 2011 on WGBY along with “Big Birding Day,” “Flawed,” “Tiffany,” “Six Weeks,” and the StoryCorps short “Miss Devine.” Keep your eyes peeled for it this summer!

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