Two programmes designed to educate students on human rights have recently been introduced into Bermuda's schools.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) developed the initiative, which is aimed at different age groups.

The first of the programmes is targeted towards primary school students. It involves the reading of a children's book 'The Brand New Kid,' written by CBS television newscaster Katie Couric, followed by exercises designed to teach the students about treating all people equally.

"We read them an illustrated story about a new boy who arrives in school who seems at first to be different from all the other boys and girls," explained Human Rights commissioner Robert Trew. "He looks different and he sounds different, and at first the children treat him as a stranger, and unkind. But one little girl befriends him and realises he's not so different after all."

After the story, the children are given different coloured stars and play a game that demonstrates how treating people differently because of the colour of their star isn't fair.

Primary one and two students at St. George's Prep and West Pembroke have gone through the programme, and soon the HRC hopes to extend it to all primary school levels.

The second programme is aimed at senior students. It is designed to educate students about the workings of the HRC and give them a glimpse at serious human rights issues.

In its first session, students from the Youth Parliament visited the HRC's Hamilton office and became 'commissioners for a day'. While there, they debated a simulated human rights case based on a landmark Canadian case involving discrimination on the grounds of religion.

Students were given general guidelines, and asked to consider the case and decide on its merits.

Paige Fisher described it as an "extremely valuable experience".

"I personally felt like I learned a lot, and it wasn't boring," she said. "It really informed us about the processes of the HRC and the steps taken when they address a complaint."

Said HRC chairperson Venous Memari: "We were very impressed with the students. They quickly seized the main issues and had a lively debate which showed their grasp of how the commission reviews a case.

"It's one thing to sit in a classroom and read about human rights. It's quite another to sit in a boardroom and realise that you have to make decisions, and that your decisions can have a real impact on other people."

Starting in the new school year, the HRC hopes to expand both programmes into more schools.

"I would like to think that if we can reach enough young people we can have a positive impact on our attitudes to each other and move away from confrontational attitudes and towards greater respect for each other," said Ms Memari.