Civics in the Classroom

Civics in IndiaThe “Rights” of Children

By Marcy Prager – marcyprager@mac.comJuly, 2011

(an integration of literacy, science and social studies)

What is Civics?

Civics is a person’s rights and duties as a citizen.

What rights do you have at home?

What duties do you have at home?

What rights do you have in school?

What duties do you have in school?

Childrens’ Rights

Every child in America has basic rights:

the right to be protected, to be safe from harm

the right to get an education

the chance to express yourself and be heard

the right to good health care

the right of basic needs of nourishment, clothing and housing

the right not to be exploited.

“My Civil Rights”-Cartoon

You have a lot of “prior knowledge” of your own “civil rights” as a child, living your life on a day-to-day basis.

Take a large piece of white construction paper and fold it into six equal and fair boxes. In each box, depict one new “civil right” you have practiced, using you, your family members, your teachers, or your friends as the main characters.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of

the Child

Twenty years ago, the United Nations wrote down the basic rights that all children, boy or girl, healthy or ill, black or white, rich or poor, with different kinds of families and different abilities, must have.

This is an agreement between all the countries.

India, too has signed this agreement.

Many Children in India Still Do Not Have These

RightsMany children in India are not experiencing

these rights.

Many children beg in the city streets for money.

Many children do not go to school.

Many children are exploited.

Many children are malnourished.

40 million children in India work as child laborers.

Not every child in India has the “right” to a good

education.Many children in India who do get a chance to

go to school go to government-run schools which are often dirty.

Many children are not taught well. They don’t have books or toys or math manipulatives to use as they solve problems.

Most families do not have the money to send their children to better schools.

Many children do not know how to read or write.

Working Together to Fix the Problem

Civics is when people have a shared problem and get together to try and solve the problem.

Many people in India want to ensure the rights of all children.

Good Nutrition is a Child’s Right

Famous author Pearl S. Buck wrote,

“Food for all is a necessity. Food should not be a merchandise, to be bought and sold as jewels are bought and sold by those who have the money to buy. Food is a human necessity, like water and air, it should be available.”

Akshaya Patra

The Akshaya Patra foundation was established by the Hari Krishna movement to “ensure that no child is deprived of education because of hunger.”

A group of caring individuals got together to start a foundation that would help poor, underprivileged families, ensuring that their children would be fed healthy, nutritious meals in government schools.

Akshaya Patra

The Akshaya Patra foundation was established by the Hari Krishna movement to “ensure that no child is deprived of education because of hunger.”

A group of caring individuals got together to start a foundation that would help poor, underprivileged families, ensuring that their children would be fed healthy, nutritious meals in government schools.

The Akshaya Patra’s Beliefs

A mid-day meal program will increase school enrollment.

Nutritious foods will will reduce or decrease school dropouts.

Students who are well fed will have the energy to do well in school.

Good technology will provide high quality nutrition at a low cost.

Centralized Sterile Kitchens

Corporate partners, the government, and donors throughout the world are sponsoring the kitchens that provide high quality nutrition and a low cost to schools that are in need.

These centralized sterile kitchens are now feeding over 10,000,000 children all over India.

In Jaipur alone, 150,000 children are fed every day!

A Kitchen in Jaipur

I was blessed as I entered Akshaya Patra’s kitchen in Jaipur.

Our Guide for the Morning

This is one of the directors of the Akshaya’s Patra’s Program in Jaipur.

Students Greet the Visitors

Rangoli - Blessing

What is an Indian shrine?

This is a shrine to Lord Krishna, a god in India.Do you see the picture of the man who founded Akshaya Patra?

A Tour of the Jaipur Kitchen – What do you notice?

Why would this be in the Jaipur Kitchen?

Bags of Flour for Making Naan

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

Huge Vats of Soy Oil for Naan

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

In Jaipur, 450 jobs were created for women to work in the

kitchen.

Cooking Daal, Lentil Soup

What do you notice?

The machines were donated from the People of Japan.

The rice is donated by the Indian government.

An agriculture company helps support 15 acres of farming land to provide nutritional vegetables

of the mid-day meal for 1,400 government schools in Jaipur.

Fresh Ginger

There is proper refrigeration for the fresh vegetables.

This is the loading dock where hot and steaming foods will be delivered by

trucks to government schools throughout the area.

What do you notice?

Throughout India, these kitchens provide jobs for 2,278 people.

What do you notice?

What do you notice?

So many mothers are grateful that their children will benefit from

eating well!

These are some of the students who benefit from this program.

What do you notice?

A Proud Student

Sayings Displayed on the School Walls

What are the values that are being taught in this government school?

Students Lining up for their Mid-Day Meal

What do you notice?

Happiness is…

Two Brothers

What do you notice?

Happiness is…

Best Friends

Teachers of the Year

This teacher of the year will receive her “Teacher of the Year”award in

Delhi.

Proud Teachers and Students

Sad to leave…

“Nutritious Foods for Tummies and Minds”

This is a six word story of the Akshaya Patra Non-Profit Organization –Unlimited food for education.

http://www.akshayapatra.org/

This is Akshaya Patra’s website for more information.

Feel free to contact me for more information:

marcyprager@mac.com

Educational consultant

Curriculum Designer – Integrating social studies and literacy with a global focus, aligned with the Common Core Standards