Bringing human rights back home: learning from “Superman” and addressing political issues at school

Human rights are commonly conceived as more relevant to foreign policy than day-to-day living. Drawing on Eleanor Roosevelt’s conception of human rights as beginning close to home, this article illustrates how human rights principles might inform everyday processes of schooling and learning to live together. It considers rights to, in and through education, exploring ways in which Banks et al.’s (2005) assertion that human rights should underpin citizenship education might be applied by social studies teachers. The article illustrates how a human rights framework permits a critical examination of politically or socially sensitive issues, close to home. Using the 2010 documentary film 'Waiting for “Superman”' as a starting point, it suggests ways in which teachers can work with students to reflect on the processes and politics of education to examine and enable ways for schooling to become available, accessible, acceptable and adaptable to all, in line with internationally agreed standards.