Young People's Rights in the Citizenship Education Classroom

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 1-17

3. Citizenship and Citizenship Education in Northern Ireland and Israel

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 19-64

4. Young People’s Rights to, in and Through Education

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 65-104

5. Representing the Minority: Curriculum in Divided Societies

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 105-137

6. Dealing with Difference: Pedagogy in Divided Societies

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 139-167

7. Looking to the (Divided) Future: Preparing Young People for Life in Divided Societies

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 169-201

8. The Challenge of Applying a ‘Universal’ Framework: Interpreting International Education Rights Law Within Citizenship Education

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 203-217

9. Conclusion

   • Helen Hanna

   Pages 219-230

10. Back Matter

    Pages 231-267

    PDF

This book explores the rights held by young people in the citizenship education classroom in the divided societies of Northern Ireland and Israel. Against the backdrop of a long history of protracted conflict and division, the author analyses how international rights obligations are reflected in the contested citizenship education curriculum in secondary schools. Drawing upon extensive qualitative data as well as policy and curriculum documents, the author reveals that understandings of education rights can be oriented around three themes – minority group representation in the curriculum, dealing with difference through pedagogy, and preparing young people for life in a (divided) society. This can be mapped onto the 42-A rights framework where education should be ‘acceptable’ and ‘adaptable’. However, the variety of interpretations held by participants raises questions regarding the ‘universality’ of international frameworks for education rights, and the workability of such frameworksin the national and divided contexts. While the contexts of Northern Ireland and Israel have much in common, they are rarely compared: this book will show that their comparison is as relevant as ever, as issues of identity continue to affect everyday school life. This book will be of interest to citizenship and history education scholars, as well as those who are concerned with the application of international human rights law. 

• Citizenship education
• Post-conflict education
• Northern Ireland
• Israel
• Young People's Rights
• Divided Societies
• Citizenship education in the classroom
• sociology of citizenship

• Institute of International and Comparative Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

  Helen Hanna

Helen Hanna is Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of International and Comparative Education, East China Normal University, China. Her research interests include educational diversity and inclusion, particularly of ethnic, racial and national minorities, migrant learners, and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

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