Reform Draft: Right of Education

[Charlotte Ryberg]

The category and area of effect is self-explanatory...

The World Assembly,

Recognising that efficient education is a vital strength which promotes the advancement of culture, industry and civilization, as well as the understanding of the issues that affect the world, and the ability to resolve them;

Admiring the fact, that education is a tool in which nations and their civilians use, not just to advance their industry, but to appreciate the joys and rewards of the existence of civilization;

Convinced that the World Assembly must play an important role to keep the magical benefits of education alive for future generations;

Therefore,

Recognizes and declares the universal right of education for everyone, regardless of age, in member states, and that member states shall not deny the right to education to their civilians;

Requires all member states to realise the right of education through:
• The provision and promotion of a free, universal and compulsory primary education, which must be at the best possible quality, and consist of a broad range of subjects such as: mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, but not subjects that would potentially harm the world, such as making bombs;
• the promotion, at least, of a widely available and accessible further education in various forms (including technical, career and vocational training);
• the establishment of a national educational system (though it may be public, private, or mixed) that is open to everyone, and to destroy the barriers that may prevent disadvantaged groups from accessing education, through means of financial or social support, and individual educational plans to help the disabled and mentally incapable garner the benefits of education as best as possible;

Calls for member states to:
• Respect the educational freedom of parents by allowing them to choose and establish private educational institutions for their children;
• Provide a national standard for lecturers to ensure an acceptable level of expertise and talent;

Establishes the World Education Forum, and directs the WEF to help member states with the establishment and provision of: the international, national and local education standards; education research organizations; tutor training programs and further education;

Extends the duties of the General Accounting Office to provide financial aid to member states who otherwise cannot provide for all the measures mandated in this resolution.

Let's have a good-old peer-reviewed polish at it.

Ms. Sarah Harper,
Chief Delegate to the Mind of Charlotte Ryberg

[Glen-Rhodes]

I honestly do not see how this is a better mandate than the current one, Ambassador Harper. The language here is vague, aside from the language mandating compulsory primary education. It could honestly be boiled down to that single line, and the effects would not be changed.

There are numerous things that need to be included, which have been included in various drafts of other education mandates:
- The proposal needs to address what an excellent education actually is.
- Care needs to be taken to allow nations with unconventional, but nonetheless adequate, systems of education (such as in Urgench) to continue to have those unconventional systems.
- The question of cost needs to be addressed. Right now, you are attempting to pass an unfunded mandate.
- Those with mental and physical disabilities need to be addressed. Special care needs to be taken with both.

I expected something with more... bang, Ambassador Harper. Most of the language in this proposal is optional.

[float=left]Dr. Bradford William Castro

Ambassador-at-Large,
Permanent Chief of Mission for World Assembly affairs,
the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes[/float][float=right][/float]

[Mousebumples]

Convinced that the World Assembly must play an important role to keep the magical benefits of education alive for future generations;

Magical benefits? Really? So we're teaching magic in WA schools? (I understand that is probably not what you meant to imply, but that was my first thought on reading, with the use of that word.) "Transformative," or something along those lines, may be a better word choice.

I honestly do not see how this is a better mandate than the current one, Ambassador Harper. The language here is vague, aside from the language mandating compulsory primary education. It could honestly be boiled down to that single line, and the effects would not be changed.

I agree with my esteemed colleague, Glen-Rhodes. This proposal (in my eyes) is very similar to the original proposal that is currently up for appeal.

Best wishes on your further edits,

[Meekinos]

Although we're no longer active in the W.A., for kicks, we revamped our original resolution.

In doing so, we drafted the following two clauses, which we feel would address one of Dr. Castro's concerns.

Recognising that citizens with mental conditions or disabilities are entitled to the same rights as their mentally competent counterparts, each member nation shall provide an alternative education that recognises the needs of these citizens and provides an education scaled to their needs and abilities.

Further recognising that citizens with physical disabilities or conditions as equal to their physically able counterparts, each member nation shall reasonably ensure accessibility and create accommodations where necessary.

These are by no means perfect, but they do address the issue of special needs students/pupils. They are suggestions for the newer proposal and may be freely incorporated.

[Bears Armed]

The category and area of effect is self-explanatory...

The World Assembly,

Recognising that efficient education is a vital strength which promotes the advancement of culture, industry and civilization, as well as the understanding of the issues that affect the world, and the ability to resolve them;

Admiring the fact, that education is a tool in which nations and their civilians use, not just to advance their industry, but to appreciate the joys and rewards of the existence of civilization;

"Hokay."

Convinced that the World Assembly must play an important role to keep the magical benefits of education alive for future generations;

"Why? My nation isn't convinced: In fact, in Bears Armed, education -- other than some at universities and that general level -- isn't even a 'national' matter... It's handled by the separate Clans (and other 'Confederated Bodys') instead, and those do a good enough job that the idea of transferring responsibility to even the 'national' level has never seriously been considered, so why should we regard any kind of 'international' intervention in the matter as desirable?
"Incidentally, were you seriously suggesting here that the WA should ensure that school curriculums include magic? I can think of quite a few governments of WA nations who would deny that that subject even exists, at least as anything beyong sleight-of-paw... And my own government, while certainly acknowledging that the subject exists, would be decidedly wary about any idea that it should be widely taught..."

Recognizes and declares the universal right of education for everyone, regardless of age, in member states, and that member states shall not deny the right to education to their civilians;

Strongly urges all member states to:
• Take action to their best endeavours to realise the right of education through the provision and promotion of a free, universal and compulsory primary education;

"Impractical. A system that truly was universal and compulsory regardless of age, as you required above, would leave nobody with enough time in which to earn a living..."

• Provide and promote, at least, a widely available and accessible secondary education in various forms (including technical and vocational training), and equally accessible higher education;

"We already do, through the Clans' systems and the national universities."

• Establish a school system (though it may be public, private, or mixed) that is open to everyone, and to destroy the barriers that may prevent disadvantaged groups from accessing education, through means of financial or social support;

"Again, I point out that sending 'everyone' to school leaves nobody in the workforce."

Calls for member states to:
• Respect the educational freedom of parents by allowing them to choose and establish private educational institutions for their children;

"Even in those nations where, regrettably, there isn't currently any legal recognition for the right to own private property?"

• Provide a national standard for lecturers to ensure an acceptable level of expertise and talent;

"Manageable, I suppose, although maybe separate standards might be more appropriate than a single, general one for some of the more 'specialised' subjects such as medicine?"

Requires member states, which have not yet established a system of free compulsory primary education, to rapidly adopt a plan of action for its introduction immediately.

"Defining 'primary' education as being what? In any case, this clause would be unacceptable to Bears Armed because of its apparent requirement that there be just one single system per member nation, with no scope for the sort of decentralisation that we currently practice: Replace "a system" with "systems", here, if you please."


Borrin o Redwood,
Chairbear, Bears Armed Mission at the World Assembly,
for
The High Council of Clans,
The Confederated Clans of the Free Bears of Bears Armed.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I honestly do not see how this is a better mandate than the current one, Ambassador Harper. The language here is vague, aside from the language mandating compulsory primary education. It could honestly be boiled down to that single line, and the effects would not be changed.

There are numerous things that need to be included, which have been included in various drafts of other education mandates:
- The proposal needs to address what an excellent education actually is.
- Care needs to be taken to allow nations with unconventional, but nonetheless adequate, systems of education (such as in Urgench) to continue to have those unconventional systems.
- The question of cost needs to be addressed. Right now, you are attempting to pass an unfunded mandate.
- Those with mental and physical disabilities need to be addressed. Special care needs to be taken with both.

I expected something with more... bang, Ambassador Harper. Most of the language in this proposal is optional.

[float=left]Dr. Bradford William Castro

Ambassador-at-Large,
Permanent Chief of Mission for World Assembly affairs,
the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes[/float][float=right][/float]

Honoured ambassador to Glen-Rhodes, did you take the Primary Education Act for a trial run? To be honest, you shouldn't really give up because Ms. Harper thinks it is really cool, and even if it doesn't reach quorum Ms. Harper could join in under your authorship to make it better.

Yours etc,

[Glen-Rhodes]

Honoured ambassador to Glen-Rhodes, did you take the Primary Education Act for a trial run? To be honest, you shouldn't really give up because Ms. Harper thinks it is really cool, and even if it doesn't reach quorum Ms. Harper could join in under your authorship to make it better.

I have submitted it once or twice before, without telegram campaigns. But that was during a less lively term in the World Assembly. I have contemplated revisiting the draft and submitting it. If you wish to look over it, I'll pull it out of the filing cabinet.

[float=left]Dr. Bradford William Castro

Ambassador-at-Large,
Permanent Chief of Mission for World Assembly affairs,
the Commonwealth of Glen-Rhodes[/float][float=right][/float]

[Linux and the X]

-snip-

We would need an extremely good argument to be able to vote for this. As compulsory education is banned by our constitution (article 11), you would need to convince over five billion people to vote to change that before I could possibly vote in favour of it. In fact, should the WA mandate compulsory education, we would be forced to withdraw from this organisation (article 9).

--fps

[Quelesh]

Ambassador Harper,

While we certainly appreciate the importance of ensuring the right of every individual to advance their own learning if they so desire and of furthering the goal of universal access to knowledge, we would not be able to support this proposal as written.

In particular, like our neighbors in Linux and the X, while not specifically prohibited by our constitution, we would never be able to support a mandate that every member state institute compulsory education. Quelesh has found great success with a voluntary system of diverse types of education, with nearly everyone in Quelesh getting some kind of specialized or general education at some point on a voluntary basis.

Also, as the ambassador from Glen-Rhodes has pointed out, instituting a system of "free compulsory primary education" is the only thing that this proposal, as written, would require of member states. Even if one supported the compulsory education requirement, this seems wholly inadequate for what should be a sweeping education proposal guaranteeing every individual the right to meaningful learning.

Personally, I much favor the current resolution (which looks to soon be repealed) over this one, as written. I strongly support the addition of clauses addressing the right of the physically and mentally handicapped to an education. I also think that references to a "school system" should be removed in favor of broader language, as "schools" play only a minor role in education in many nations. I would support the inclusion of apprenticeships as well, and other forms of learning-by-doing, at least in certain fields.

[The Eternal Kawaii]

In the Name of the Eternal Kawaii, may the Cute One be praised

The main reason our nation supported the Right to Education proposal currently under repeal was that it explicitly guaranteed the right to religious education. However, we see no such guarantees under this proposal. From the standpoint of a nation whose school system is exclusively religious, how is this an improvement?

[The Rich Port]

While I don't think "Right To Education" should be repealed, I'm glad this actually wasn't grief-repealing. LET IT PASS AGAYN!!

[Tzorsland]

Now that the Repeal "The Right to Education" was passed 3,263 votes to 2,610 does anyone want to make a bet that this draft is going to die on the vine having served its purpose to distract and confuse the repeal debate?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I could, give it another revision but most likely the version by the honoured ambassador to Glen Rhodes' seems unbeatable. By this point I am starting to realise that the three education drafts at the works may be rather identical to each other by nature at the end. All with the same aim but only this one mandating compulsory primary education.