Retiree helps AFT turn democratic theory into practice

As a former civics and journalism teacher, Marlene Hoffman has always been interested in domestic and international relations. But she never imagined that her interest would lead to travels in Europe, Africa and Asia as a trainer in some of the world’s emerging democracies.

Hoffman, a retired member of the Washington Teachers Union, is one of many AFT members, active and retired, who have joined the union’s international affairs department as volunteers who train people to educate others about democracy, human rights and trade unions, in places where such notions are virtually unknown.

Since first learning about the AFT program, Hoffman has traveled to Eritrea, Mongolia, Romania, Tanzania and Uzbekistan as a trainer.

“I was pretty scared at first, but now you can’t stop me,” says Hoffman, who taught at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Washington, D.C., for nearly 22 years.

Hoffman’s most recent trip took her to Thailand where her assignment was to educate refugees from Burma about human rights and democracy. Hoffman and AFT international affairs department staffer Christina Houlihan trained 32 refugees who will take what they have learned back to the refugee camps along the Thailand-Burma border; some will return to Burma to share the lesson of democracy there.

The lessons that Hoffman and others teach are based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “It’s a good starting point, because the recognition of human rights leads to democracy,” she says. The AFT project has brought together people who “have experienced the violation of human rights” in their own countries, and “they are able to link what they have been taught to the U.N. declaration,” she says.

The retired teacher is inspired by her students’ enthusiasm. “They are so eager to learn, we can hardly get them out of the classroom.” By the time the lessons are done, the students are ready to take the content and strategies they’ve learned and put them into practice, which is good, Hoffman says. “When you’re teaching democratic principles, practice is as important as theory.”

The experiences have been personally rewarding as well, Hoffman adds. And, she would advise anyone who’s interested to get involved but be prepared. “It is a rewarding experience but you should know what you’re in for.”

Accommodations are modest, says Hoffman. She’s never been without running water or electricity on her trips, but she knows others who haven’t been so lucky. In addition, there is often a language barrier, notes Hoffman. She usually conducts the sessions with the help of a translator. “You get used to it after a while, and it almost feels like you’re talking to the students directly.”

Still, she says, the benefits far outweigh any discomfort. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a little dent in what’s going on in the world.”

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