"Why Teaching About Social Justice Matters"


To be honest I wasn't quite sure what the question 'why teaching social justice in the classroom is important' and my brain immediately went to my high school current world problems class. This teacher taught what legitimately "social justice" was and the different types of issues happening around the world, but never taught us how to change them. On the other hand, I had a civics teacher who was all about having their students change the world or at least a part of it. He reminded me a lot of the teacher in this article. I love how he doesn't focus on just racial stereotypes and injustices but talks about when his students wrote a paper on stereotypes they focused on "micro-aggressions they dealt with on a daily basis, and lowered or unfair expectations put upon them". He challenged his students to think deeper and look at the bigger picture, which is the world we are living in. He also asks many rhetorical questions about who should be teaching students about these issues and how to stand up for themselves and their minority, and also all the amazing aspects of their race, gender, or stereotype this world has boxed them in before landing on the conclusion that it is the teachers job. And that many teachers agree that this isn't a "job" for them at all, but rather they thank the parents for sending their kids to school so that they become better members of society and of the world. But on the flip side, the teachers end up learning more from the students which then enriches their lives as well. I loved this teacher's attitude on rather than teaching the student the use of metaphors and allusions they use a poem to show how their student can use it as a source of empowerment.

 https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/why-teaching-about-social-justice-matters

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