Teaching Requires Relearning: Social Justice Education

 

As social justice education gains widespread support across schools in Toronto, some teachers and parents are concerned about what that means for their classrooms and children. Leaders and change-makers continue to present the positives of teaching equity, while many believe children are becoming indoctrinated due to a "social justice agenda".

 

Toronto Star writer, Sue-Ann Levy, argues that the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, otherwise known as ETFO, is advocating for a curriculum that is "dumbed down" and creates mediocrity in the classroom (2019). Alongside her unapologetically conservative views, this article is rampant with ableist language and highlights why social justice education is critical not only for elementary students but the population at large.

 

Anyone passionate about education certainly values a "student's ability to read, write, add, subtract, multiply and divide properly" (Levy, 2019). The idea that a shift toward social justice equates to a lack of literacy education is egregious.

 

There are many ways to engage children in social justice education. Teaching for equity requires us to unlearn many of the beliefs we hold, and be honest about where our gaps in knowledge exist. Some ideas include:

·      Exposing students to diversity through books, activities, and technology.

·      Asking children to share their opinions or questions about challenging topics.

·      Exposing children to news stories where they can identify injustice.

·      Setting an example by speaking out against injustice around family and friends, and being honest if we fall short.

 

Many educators and community activists have come together to share brilliant ways to bring social justice learning into classrooms. One focus has been on integrating Africentric perspectives into schooling.

                                   

During my time at OISE, University of Toronto, I had the opportunity to learn about how to teach using Africentric approaches in the classroom. Learn more about ways to implement Africentric perspectives here and here.

 

AlessiaC@NU