IS EDUCATION SOCIAL JUSTICE?

Is Education Social Justice?

Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School

Abstract

When understanding the terms of Social Justice, multiple components are involved to

completely view it as a whole. Social Justice is the piece of one bigger puzzle, but only exist

beside its other part-in education and in society. Education is one major industry that has

progressed with social injustices and solutions for those injustices. Education can only be

socially just, if and only if, a proper curriculum surrounding social activism is enacted. This

would include the teachers fight towards an oppressed society and by opening their students

within the classroom, through statements of the truth and education that is not in history or

science books, and even English As without social activism, social justice cannot occur because

one is the ultimate goal at the end of ones change and reach.

Keywords: social justice, education, curriculum, schools, equal, activism

Is Education Social Justice?

In many instances a clear definition of concrete ideas is hard to grasp. According to the

National Association of Social Workers (2017), Social justice is the view that everyone deserves

equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Opportunities like educational

support, tutoring, expanded theory classes, and even personal therapy. This cannot be created

unless all parts of this can be guaranteed, thus Social Activism comes into play in order to be

socially just. Amherst College (2017) states, Social activism is an intentional action with the

goal of bringing about social change. If you (an individual) feel strongly about a cause and are

working towards a change, you could be considered an activist. An activist is anyone who is

fighting for change in society. Although with this comes a lot of different interpretations of what

social change can really mean and whether, in many cases, change actually occurs. Although

with this, Amherst University (2017) provides the following, rather than working directly with

the homeless, a social activist might work to uncover the conditions that are making it difficult

for people to work and afford a place to live. This expands the idea of how exactly social

change can come to be and what Social Activism expands to. Rather it becomes the actions we

perform in the background that in the foreground.

To reiterate, If we define social justice as the belief in an equitable, compassionate world

where difference is understood, valued and respected, then we can see that social activism and

social justice are flip sides of the same coin. Social action work is a way to meet the goal of

social justice (Amherst University, 2017). If one change can be made, then the idea of it has to

exist, and with Social Justice, an individual cannot create the change unless Social Activism is

taught to them to make the change happen.

Schools approach to teaching Social Activism

Schools have become a central point for teaching and helping the younger generations

learn about social change and how they can become social activist. With constant changes in

economy and the education system itself, There is a real Social Justice need, as students and

educators alike have become less understanding of the change that has to occur with the world

around them (Walker 12). In order for one to create a change and allow to teach for change and

fight against an ultimate power, they need to be open and be more understanding of the world

around them. To elaborate, Social justice doesnt manifest in a singular fashion, nor is it

achieved through a specific means of instruction. Students studying this field use critical

examination of themselves, others, institutions and events to find patterns of inequality, bigotry

or discrimination, then explore possible solutions to the problems theyve identified. Social

justice advocates hope to build a society in which individuals have equal access to resources and

receive equitable treatment regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexuality, income level or

disability (Blake 15).

Successful Teachings For a Social Justice Curriculum

In many cases, teachers consider themselves to be the bearers of change and the future of

the nation, mostly because they are teaching and creating the individuals of tomorrow. Academic

advisors are the change agents (Russo, 2014) that will morph the ideas within their own

classrooms. Most especially, Teachers can change the content or topics they address as well as

through particular pedagogical practices that tend to undermine patterns of oppression (Russo,

2014). What is taught within the classroom determines the amount of voice from the student and

the real creation of change that may occur within the mind of the student. One must understand

the importance of a teacher's power in a classroom, By looking at history, current events, math,
IS EDUCATION SOCIAL JUSTICE? 5

writing, and literacy through a social justice/critical/transformative lens, [it] can create the

necessary curriculum that embodies social justice (Tan, 2003). In order for a teacher to

understand the teaching and a central idea, they must first understand what it is and what to

teach. In order to for educators to control the ideas being taught they must first understand

themselves what Social Justice means. Social Justice means, means recognizing oppression in

its multiple forms, and then taking action in the classroom to interrupt the cycles of oppression.

When teachers teach for social justice they are working to end the cycle of oppression. (Russo,

2004).

Instructors must be willing to go against the norm and repress the oppression within the

classroom by stating the facts that will actually matter for the students and not saying what they

are required to say. They need to abruptly state the truth in order to help their students recognize

there is a higher power and how to neglect its influence over them. Although it may be a harsh

setting for the students to be in, it can be seen that such measures are necessary, if we are to

escape our self-deceptive innocence and our self-paralyzing reluctance to confront the night-

side of [our] own history. Educators committed to a pedagogy of social justice would eagerly

answer Wests call for fearless speech in service of what they hold to be one of the most

important missions of Americas schoolsthe cultivation of an active, informed citizenry.

(Ayers and Quinn and Stovall, 25)

Conclusion

In all, when regarding the idea of Social Justice and teaching it, it becomes a complex theoretical

idea that many cannot completely comprehend, let alone implement it correctly into school

curriculum. Many incorrectly utilize Social Justice as the fight for change, but in reality

according to National Association of Social Workers (2017), Social justice is the view that
IS EDUCATION SOCIAL JUSTICE? 6

everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. While Social

Activism is, in a department of Amherst College, an intentional action with the goal of bringing

about social change. The two different, often misinterpreted ideals in society mean two very

similar things, but are, as a whole, one component, where one can only exist if the other does as

well.
IS EDUCATION SOCIAL JUSTICE? 7

References

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from https://www.oswego.edu/~prusso1/Russos_what_does_it_mean_to_teach_for_s.htm

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