A message from the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission on Youth Human Rights Materials

Thursday, October 29, 2026 

The Human Rights Commission has read, with care and concern, the accounts from Cayuga Heights Elementary families about a human rights video shown to third-grade students. Parents are right to expect that what their children see in school is age-appropriate and drawn from well-vetted sources, and they are right to ask questions when it is not.

A few years ago, the Commission also received free educational materials generously donated by the United for Human Rights/Youth for Human Rights International organization explaining the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to different categories of young people. Upon further request, we were able to share them with school administrative offices for consideration for two levels only: grades 5/6 and grades 10 and above. They were never intended or recommended for third graders, nor distributed to them.

At the time, the Commission invited a small group of parents and their children to review the materials and provide feedback and suggestions. Based on their excellent suggestions and requests for illustrative stories emerging from within our community, we decided not to distribute any more of those particular materials, and we have not done so in the many years since.

Furthermore, when we shared the materials with the school offices, we were not aware of the organization’s affiliation and sponsorship. That connection was not apparent on the materials or in our communications, and we did not look closely enough. We appreciate the contributions diverse groups, including religious organizations, have made to promoting human rights worldwide.

However, the Commission does not promote any religious organization, and regardless of the sponsor’s identity, we believe schools, educators, and families have a right to know who creates the content they share with children. This principle concerns only what the Commission itself distributes. It does not limit any organization’s ability to engage with schools under district policies. The Commission continues to affirm the freedom of religion and expression of every resident.

Teaching young people about human rights means telling the truth about human suffering. That work matters. We hope that the work of teaching human rights to young people will not be ignored. But it has to be done with materials that are right for each age, from sources families trust, and with care for how children receive it.  This is a responsibility we should all seek to uphold in supporting the community.

The Commission is a non-partisan body of community members who volunteer their time to uphold the dignity and rights of every resident. We invite you to join us in identifying and addressing the challenges that affect our neighbors, from poverty and housing insecurity to barriers in accessing healthcare. Together, we build a community where everyone can thrive.

The Tompkins County Human Rights Commission

(edited to clarify the Commission’s position on religiously funded materials, on Thursday, November 5, 2026)