By: Pre Valentine

Social Justice In Schools

CLASSROOM ISSUES Racism in the classroom has become

one of the most well disguised issues. Segregation may no longer be around, but the judgment that goes with racism is still very alive.

STUDENT ISSUES “Racism continues to taint the educational

experience of students,” (Helling).

Students know when they are being judged because of how they look. They know when teachers have certain expectations of them over other students due to their race. Like when a Spanish teacher assumes I speak fluent Spanish because I look Spanish. Or when a teacher assumes I will not be able to write a paper with good grammar because I look black.

GROWTH AT SCHOOL “By denying students of color the space to exist,

we diminish the education of all of us. We pursue education to understand the world. The more we let the world into education, the more we all stand to gain,” (Helling).

School is made to prepare students for their future. Experience is the best education to give. It is good to put students in a real life situation and help/allow them to explore their options, even if done so verbally.

POSITIVE EXPOSURE “Social justice is more than just a topic in a day's

lesson plan, but rather a frame of mind and a concept that permeates curricula in classrooms that are committed to equity for all. Music, being a universal language, is an ideal medium through which to teach social justice,” (Berman).

Music is a safer and more universal approach to teaching in a socially just environment. Perhaps, digging deeper into music will allow students to better understand school and life overall.

CHANGE THE VIEW “Social justice is about diverse points of

view,” (Berman).

When students learn about diversity through learning to change their perspective, they gain understanding and are more likely to create a bond with a greater mix of persons.

EMBRACING THE DIFFERENCE By acknowledging the differences in

people in general, not just physically, students will grow to have open hearts and get to know the character of a person first. The more diversity that surrounds a person, the more likely they will be to see others for who they are and not what they appear to be. This is social justice in action.

DIVERSITY IS ABOUT UNITY Animals unite to survive; people ought

to unite for the sake of a better world. Teams of people accomplish great things, even those individuals that we consider great. Those who accomplished great things were either part of a team or had help from various people along the way.

THE END

REFERENCE Berman, A. Teaching social justice in the

music classroom: Music educators can open the door to dialogue and understanding of what can be difficult subjects to address. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2015.

Helling, J. (n.d.). School of Education at Johns Hopkins University-"Allowing" Race in the Classroom: Students Existing in the Fullness of Their Beings:. Fairhaven College, Western Washington University.

Leigh, C. (2015, September 5). Fix School [Personal interview].

Jones, B. (2015, September 5). Fix The School System [Telephone interview].

Wake Up Everybody. Dir. Wyclef Jean. Bungalo, 2004. Film.

Video from sample video