Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/776907
Dan Reynolds has advocated for human rights throughout his 16-year teaching career. He serves as the chair for CTA's Civil Rights Committee and authored CTA's policy for dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. He also created a human rights edu- cation course from scratch that recently became "a-g" certified (meeting UC admission requirements) and is taught at several schools in Mount Diablo Uni- fied School District. Most people are familiar with the Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing personal freedoms. Fewer are familiar with the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights created in 1948, which states the rights and freedoms to which every human is equally and inalienably entitled. This document, focusing on cultural, political, civil, economic and social rights regardless of country or social group, serves as a foundation in the class. "Once we study that, the kids take off," says Reynolds. " Then we look at contemporary human rights issues around the world. A few years ago, we studied the Occupy movement and how it was spreading worldwide. More recently, we have looked at the Move- ment for Black Lives." The Vonnegut quote that inspires Reynolds reminds him that it's import- ant to spend time "on the edge." "It reminds me of Vygotsky 's zone of proximal development [commonly known as scaffolding] and the idea that a life spent on the edge is a life spent spiraling outward to expand our experi- ences and expand our zone." The recipient of the National Council of Teachers of English 2016 Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award has worked hard to expand the list of board- approved texts in his district, including Fight Club and Maus. His students successfully lobbied the school district to stop using Hershey 's chocolate in on-site baking and replace it with Fair Trade Certified chocolate, so child workers are not exploited and adult workers are treated fairly. He recently worked with his district to develop more inclusive policies for transgender students. "Lots of things were handed to me simply because of my privilege as a white, college-educated, male hetero- sexual," says Reynolds. "I see it as my duty to use that privilege to help import- ant human rights causes move forward, and I encourage others to do the same." Since this stor y was written, Dan Reynolds accepted a position with CTA and will continue his advocacy work . THE ART OF ADVOCACY Dan Reynolds Mount Diablo Education Association E N G L I S H / C I V I L R I G H T S T E A C H E R Mt. Diablo High School " I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center." — Kurt Vonnegut Jr., in Player Piano " It's my duty to use my privilege to help important human rights causes move forward. I encourage others to do the same." Dan Reynolds has been a tireless — and effective — advocate for human rights in his classroom and district, and also in his CTA work. 26 cta.org