Phelps 1 Matthew Phelps Ms.

Meyer Campus Ministry (6) 23 February 2012 Rights and Responsibilities All children have a right to an education. Children are the future of human existence. While they are often undermined and made inferior to their elders, they deserve and require hope to carry on the human race. Educating the future of our country is important, for our youth will be making the decisions that shape America. Children also have the right to an education to ensure that they are given them the opportunity to be successful and profitable. This future hope for employment, another example of a thrival right, can only be attained if this valuable education is given beforehand. Guaranteeing this education creates a high standard in our country and shows that we value each human being as an individual. All children have the right to steady nourishment and housing. As these survival rights are crucial to the livelihood of the child and will guarantee their health as they develop into adults, our country should be responsible to ensure these basic rights. Again, ensuring these rights ensure a strong future in America. But ethically, every child should have a place to sleep at night and shouldnt have to starve, living off of minimal food and water.

Phelps 2 When dealing with these rights, poverty is inevitably an issue. While a stable living and academic learning environment seems absolutely necessary for every possible kid, these conditions are considered luxuries and only a small minority of the world is treated to such extravagance. These principles of the Catholic Church form a boundary that shows the ideal conditions that all people should live under. But our broken world will most likely never find this equilibrium where all people are given a healthy meal each day and are lucky enough to find a warm place to sleep each night. Children living in poverty will most likely not receive a high school diploma. Many impoverished children suffer from starvation, not able to receive any form of nourishment because of their condition. Survival and thrival rights are the two types of rights that the Catholic Church recognizes. Survival rights include the certain necessities needed for a human being to survive. These might include food and drink, shelter and basic health care. Secondly, the Church recognizes the existence of thrival rights, which include education, employment, a safe living environment and certain material goods. In my opinion, education and a safe living environment are crucial to the well being of a child. While education is responsible for the childs success and general awareness of their life, a safe, healthy living environment may be just as essential to the childs future. The method in which a child is raised shapes the childs character, personality and outlook on life. The parenting of the child and violence a child may grow

Phelps 3 up around can be major contributing factors that reflect the kid as an adult. All children have a right to life and the benefits or challenges that it gives. But, if the child is going to live a life fully and experience all aspects of life, they deserve the basic and thrival rights that life entails. All children have the right to nourishment, shelter and education. Most importantly, children have a right to a life well lived.