South Seneca Central Schools, in the heart of upstate New York, also appear to be at the center of student human rights activism.

Since 2003, this small district in Seneca County has participated as a videoconference site in the United Nations' annual Student Conference on Human Rights. The event links students worldwide via videoconference and webcast to discuss human rights issues.

The conference role is part of a district distance learning program, run by English teacher Gertrude Shaffer and art teacher Breana Copp, members of the South Seneca Teachers Association, led by John Gilfus.

The elective program "allows students to delve deeply into world matters so they become active world citizens," Shaffer said.

The class crosses grade levels, mixing eighth-graders in dialogues with high school seniors, which diversifies conversations.

"It provides students with opportunities to discuss issues surrounding politics, economics and social structures," Shaffer said. "They become aware of the centers of power and of people who are in trouble and people who are disenfranchised."

Looking to put some videoconferencing equipment to good use, she began the involvement with the U.N. conference.

After seeing how rewarding it was for her students to focus even briefly on human rights, Shaffer thought the subject deserved year-round attention. With support from her administration and funding from a few initial grants, the distance learning program was born. The program culminates with a spring symposium on human rights, exposing the community to issues the class has addressed. One night during the weeklong celebration is an Evening of the Arts.

"It's a great way to show kids that through visual and personal expression you can be an activist," Copp said.

Confidence

What students learn in the program can rub off on their classmates. "They bring confidence of youth voice and youth activism into the class," said Shaffer, "and other kids see that doing so doesn't hurt that much."

The U.N. conference started in 1998 when the United Nations invited young people to its Manhattan headquarters to draft the Youth Declaration of Human Rights. Part of the organization's 50th anniversary celebration, it was so successful that students lobbied the U.N. to make the conference a recurring experience, and it has continued to grow.

While promoting awareness and education of human rights is a perennial goal, the theme changes every year. This year's conference, to be held in December, focuses on the rights of indigenous people.

The December forum will result in a student-written Plan of Action that will be presented to the president of the U.N. General Assembly.

To learn about starting a program, contact Shaffer at gertrude_shaffer@yahoo.com or (315) 549-9934.

— Andrew Waite