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| Human Rights Commission presents FL Junior High students with an essay ‘challenge’ |
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| Wednesday, 09 January 2008 | |
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The Forest Lake Human Rights Commission, through the League of Minnesota HRC, would like to present a “challenge” to the junior high students in ISD 831. The essay contest is open to all junior high students in the Forest Lake School District. The deadline is Feb. 7. Essays can be submitted to Forest Lake City Hall by the close of business at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact City Clerk Chantal Doriott at (651) 209-9727. The Forest Lake HRC will select the winners on Feb. 21. The local first place winner will receive a $50 gift certificate with second and third places receiving $25 gift certificates. The first place winner will then enter the state contest in March, which offers $500 for first place, $350 for second place and third place winners will receive $200. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified by the United Nations in 1948. As far back as 1857, the Minnesota Constitution prohibited discrimination. Minnesota legislators passed the Fair Employment Practices Act in 1955. Discrimination was outlawed nationally by the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Through the years, these laws have been broadened and amended to give more protection. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights was established in 1967 and in 1968 local human rights commissions were established throughout the state. The League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission essay topic for 2008 is: After all of this, why do you think discrimination still exists today? Points to think about before writing: 1. What is illegal discrimination? Research some recent cases. See Minnesota Department of Human Rights Web site www.humanrights.state.mn.us or newspapers, magazines or newscasts. 2. What cases of illegal discrimination do you know of personally? 3. If someone refuses to associate with someone of a different religion, race or ability, this is not illegal discrimination but usually a sign of prejudice or bigotry. How might this be related to illegal discrimination? Be sure to define discrimination within your essay. According to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, not every act that’s unfair or unreasonable is illegal. To be considered unlawful under the Human Rights Act, the discrimination must have happened because of one of the following reasons: Race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, familial status (housing only), disability, public assistance, age, sexual orientation and local HRC activity (employment only). Social Bookmarking ...       |
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