We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 20 & 21 feature conversations with Dr. Monisha Bajaj. Dr. Monisha Bajaj is a Professor of International and Multicultural Education at the University of San Francisco. She is the editor and author of eight books and numerous articles on issues of peace, human rights, migration, and education, including Humanizing Education for Immigrant and Refugee Youth and World Yearbook of Education 2023: Racialization and Educational Inequality in Global Perspective. Dr. Bajaj has developed curriculum and teacher training materials—particularly related to human rights, racial justice, ethnic studies, and sustainability—for non-profit and national advocacy organizations as well as inter-governmental organizations, such as UNICEF and UNESCO. In 2015, she received the Ella Baker/Septima Clark Human Rights Award (2015) from Division B of the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Episode 21: Dr. Monisha Bajaj, Part One
In Episode 21, Dr. Monisha Bajaj shares her interest in human rights and human rights education, as well as her work at Human Rights Watch. Dr. Bajaj then discusses the work of Paolo Freire and Richard Pierre Claude. Next, she describes her work with Betty Reardon, and the evolution of the field of human rights education (HRE). Dr. Bajaj expounds upon the significance of social media and internet technologies in spreading HRE along with contemporary HRE challenges, including rising fascism. Later, Dr. Bajaj raises questions about the relevance of human rights and her thoughts on the impact of decolonization scholarship. She also explains the linkages between HRE and peace education; the importance of her work with immigrant and refugee communities; and the heightened presence of human rights across university programs. Lastly, Dr. Bajaj shares her thoughts on the reconceptualization of public discourse on human rights, and how the U.S. remains far behind in integrating HRE in mass public education.
Topics discussed:
- Work at Human Rights Watch
- Paolo Freire and Richard Peirre Claude
- Dr. Betty Reardon
- Evolution of the field of human rights education
- Impact of social media and internet technologies in spreading HRE
- Relevance of human rights
- Impact of decolonization scholarship
- Linkages between HRE and peace education
- Work with immigrant and refugee communities
- Reconceptualizing public discourse on human rights
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 22: Dr. Monisha Bajaj, Part Two
In Episode 22, Dr. Monisha Bajaj shares HRE and peace education strategies to apply when working with marginalized groups, as well as her partner project with immigrant students in Oakland, California, and the book that emerged from the partner project. Next, Dr. Bajaj discusses how the HRE framework helps students from all backgrounds by broadening their perspective. Dr. Bajaj then explains the connections between HRE and social justice, and her thoughts on using HRE to focus on social and economic rights and address endemic problems. Dr. Bajaj also shares the importance of having leaders who are human rights-informed and her concerns for a growing authoritarianism in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Bajaj then emphasizes the value of a national HRE conference, and John Terry and the New Jersey HRE conference on human rights and climate change. Lastly, she describes her most significant role models in HRE; a quote that summarizes her views on HRE; and one critical change she thinks would advance HRE in the U.S.
Topics discussed:
- HRE strategies when working with marginalized groups
- Partner project with immigrant students in Oakland, California.
- HRE framework supporting students from diverse backgrounds
- Connection between HRE and social justice
- HRE as a framework for working on social and economic rights
- Importance of having leaders who are human-rights informed
- Growing trend toward authoritarianism
- HRE National conference
- John Terry and the New Jersey HRE Conference
- Significant role model and inspiring quote
- Critical change that would advance HRE in the U.S.
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
HRE USA 