What are the rights of a child in the classroom?
Young children’s dependency on adults makes them very vulnerable. This susceptibility of theirs increases the need of adults ensuring the provision of their rights. So while the classroom is an ideal place for them to learn about human rights, through discussion, practice and activity, what they will learn most from is the teacher setting an example and providing an environment where child rights are implemented. Teacher/student interaction should entail a careful observation of the rights of the children, and the classroom should be a place they learn about both, their own rights and the rights of others around them.

These in class child rights can be categorized into the following broad areas of concern:

Warmth and responsiveness:
It might be difficult to define what warmth would be, but in all probability, we can tell the difference between a warm and cold response, or a warm and cold learning environment. All children have the right to warmth and responsiveness on part of their teachers, more so at an earlier stage of learning. It is important that a child’s individual preoccupations and needs are given attention. Responsiveness itself would be the ability to tune into these individual learning styles and/or disabilities, and respond to them appropriately as well. Even though it might be difficult to respond to all children in the same way, since some children are naturally more engaging then others it is a teacher’s responsibility to respond to children who are difficult to handle, just as well as those who are not.

Self respect and dignity - non violent means of control:
Controlling children’s misbehavior is one of the most important areas in which to develop good practice in the classroom. It is crucial in terms of promoting children’s welfare and upholding their rights. In dealing with uncalled for behavior, it is usually very easy for teachers to show negative behavior themselves in return – that too at the cost of the child’s self-esteem. Hitting or smacking children especially, is a violation of their rights as people. It has been outlawed in educational institutions in most parts of the world. In fact, child-centered approaches to education have ensured that it is considered unacceptable behavior even when laws against violent reprimands do not exist.

Protection against discrimination and prejudice:
Although discrimination may exist in many different forms; on the basis of gender, race or disability, it is often hard to identify and prove. Discrimination in the classroom is a phenomenon that would be an outright violation of the child’s rights, more so when the child is not mature enough to even identify the basis of the discrimination. The effects of discrimination have proven to have a long lasting effect on the child. Countering prejudice in the classroom requires that the teachers foster an attitude that promotes respect for all children, and create a positive environment that can help children learn that differences amongst them are to be accepted and cherished.