If we want a more just world, we must start with our children.
That’s the message of the Human Dignity Curriculum (HDC). The curriculum teaches children a fundamental reality: we are all equal in dignity. And because of this dignity, all human beings are worthy of respect. When children understand this, it’s the first step towards a future of freedom and justice.
For the past few years, HDC has been spreading to classrooms around the world, from Kenya and Lebanon to Paraguay and the United States. Wherever the curriculum is taught, it brings hope to children and families and transforms lives.
Take the Philippines.
On March 18, 2024, the Province of Antique, Philippines adopted a provincial ordinance institutionalizing the Human Dignity Curriculum in all public and private schools. The provincial ordinance was sponsored by Antique Board Member Dr. Mayella Mae Plameras-Ladislao and signed into law by Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao on March 27.
The statute is entitled An Ordinance Empowering Children, Adolescents and Youth Through Enactment of the Human Dignity Education Program in the Province of Antique. It aims to recognize the importance of instilling values such as respect, empathy, and kindness in educational institutions.
“Through the provincial HDC ordinance, we hope to equip future generations to value human dignity and foster a deep sense of meaning and purpose among our learners,” says Dr. Plameras-Ladislo.
A New Pilot Program
Sta. Rita Academy—a private K-6 Catholic school in the town of Sibalom—was the first school in Antique to pilot the Human Dignity Curriculum.
Fifth-grade teacher Honey Rose Sumugat led her students through the curriculum. Using games, discussion, and activities, the class learned that we are all equal in dignity and that no one, and no action, can take away a person’s inherent dignity. Students discussed the importance of kindness, love, and friendship, and treating people as subjects rather than objects.
Students particularly loved a section of the program where they were asked to write an acrostic poem expressing what made them special or what it’s like to be a human. The activity gave the kids a profound way to express their feelings about their families.
Ms. Honey Rose has been amazed by the transformation she’s seen in her students. Proud and boastful pupils have become humble and appreciative of their self-worth. Rambunctious kids show more respect, obedience, and responsibility.
“I now begin to see some changes in the attitude of the students and how they treat one another and other people because of the Human Dignity Curriculum. They are able to readily accept failures, to have a more positive attitude, to try their best to be better and to nurture hope in their heart,” Ms. Honey Rose shares.
Sta. Rita students Thea and Julienne agree that the HDC has been life-changing. Thea said that the program helped her peers realize the importance of considering others, not just themselves.
Students are also growing in confidence and perseverance. One child shared, “I learned that we can learn from our mistakes and we can choose to be better.”
Another fifth-grader told Ms. Honey Rose, “Miss, thank you for making me realize my mistakes and helping me to let go of the grudges in my heart. I will now understand and obey my parents because what they are doing is for my own good.”
Changing Lives Outside the Classroom
The curriculum has created a ripple effect in the Sta. Rita community. Parents of some of the students were excited to share the changes happening in the behavior of their children. They’ve reported their kids becoming more humble, obedient, considerate towards siblings, and respectful.
Ms. Honey Rose recounts a particularly moving story: “There was one parent who came to me teary-eyed and told me that her child repeatedly tells her: ‘Mama, thank you for your hard work. I love you!’ She was so touched, she couldn’t believe such a transformation was happening in her child.”
Inspired by the stories and lessons that their kids brought home from the HDC classroom, many parents have changed their lives, too. Some have shared that they’ve become more affectionate and attentive towards their kids.
Even Ms. Honey Rose’s own outlook on life has changed. She’s found herself practicing the curriculum’s principles more in her daily life. “I feel fulfilled seeing the learners gradually learning and changing,” she says.
Sta. Rita Academy is just the beginning. Thanks to the recently-passed provincial ordinance, HDC Teacher Training in Antique is scheduled for the coming year. And the curriculum will be piloted in select public schools in Libertad and Sebaste this September. HDC now has the potential to reach over 500 schools and over a hundred thousand students all over the province. The future of HDC in the Philippines is bright!
Want to learn more about the HDC? Visit our website (humandignitycurriculum.org) or send us an email at hdc@wya.net.