Confrontation?? oh well!
We need
to start thinking about our students and not as much on if we are going to
offend someone. The students have a right to make their own decisions about the
world around them and as teachers, we can provide them with that platform. Before
I got into this program, I was very uncertain how I would go about sociopolitical
issues and if I should even incorporate it in my classroom. Many parents and
administrators think that we should be shielding our students from these issues
because they are too “young” or it doesn’t have a place in school.
I am trying to think about a time
that I learned about social justice issues in my classroom and unfortunately, I
can’t. I may have come from a predominantly white, middle-class community, but
that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be exposed to the issues that are all around us.
Thinking back on my experiences in school, I feel that because I didn’t get that
insight into these issues that I and my classmates were missing out in a way. We
could have had some conversations about hard-hitting topics and figured out
ways we could help not only in our community but in Indianapolis where these issues
are more prevalent. I felt like my parents (nothing against them, I love them!)
and teachers kept me in a “bubble” because they thought that was what was best
for me.
There are so many ways we can
incorporate social justice issues in our classrooms. We can provide an
inclusive community by putting up relevant posters that represent your students
and can see themselves. You can, of course, have books that focus on the issues
that are occurring in their communities and around the world. You can also make
them feel valued by including their backgrounds and cultures in your curriculum.
Even just staring with social just children’s books is a step in the right direction!
Students need to also feel like they
have a choice in what they are learning about because if it isn’t relevant to
them then why will they want to listen?!? Have students lead these hard-hitting
conversations and creative activities that make sense to them and you will see
how much their minds can grow. When students have these conversations and do
these activities, they will be exposed to different opinions and different viewpoints.
They should learn how to be active listeners and even though they may not agree
with everyone, they can still engage. The author Laura Darolia takes about how
Olivia (second-grade teacher) says, “While she made no promises to “embrace”
alternate viewpoints, she was open to respectfully engaging in critical
conversations, learning from others while advocating her own position (Darolia,
Pg. 2).”
To wrap up my blog, I wanted to offer
this article up that really talks about the important social justice issues
has in the classroom! It shows that as educators, it is our job to EDUCATE
students on the world around us. Have a look!
https://educationpost.org/its-non-negotiable-we-have-to-teach-social-justice-in-our-schools/
Questions:
·
In what way could you have your students create
their own activity that touches on certain social just issues that are
occurring in their society?
·
Besides picture books, what are some other ways
that you can introduce and continue to teach sociopolitical issues in your
classroom?
·
How would you go about being the only teacher
that is openly willing to discuss social justice issues in your classroom?
·
Even though everyone may not agree that social justice
has a place in the classroom, how could you come at it with minimal confrontation
with parents, teachers, and administrators?
Abby,
ReplyDeleteWhen you said "Students need to also feel like they have a choice in what they are learning about because if it isn’t relevant to them then why will they want to listen?!?" THIS IS SO IMPORTANT !!! Wow. We need to provide curriculum that allows the students to connect everything back to one another. To me it seems like a lot of students do not enjoy school because there aren't a lot of connections - not a lot of meaning, not very fun, and they just have to follow these rules and procedures that hinder them more than benefit.
To answer some of your questions, I think picture books are a great way to start up topics about social justice. Starting with a read aloud, and then having the students do a project, or connecting something in that story with the math lesson (using the main character, and numbers used in the story) would be a great way to connect the lesson to many of your lessons throughout the day. I almost think each day should kind of have like a "theme" so to speak, just so that students can see those connections and push their knowledge further.
Also, I think being the only teacher doing this would be hard, and I'd bring it up during whole school meetings. Let them know that this is what you're going to be doing, and think it is going to be most beneficial for your students. Hold your ground, which I know seems hard, but we know the best practices for how to educate students in a way that is meaningful, so if we fall into the same routine as everyone else, then what was our entire purpose or point in being at IUPUI for 4 years? It would be a waste of knowledge to fall into the same straight line as others.
Jazlyn,
DeleteI totally agree! In school I didn't feel like the teachers really connected to my life and it didn't feel meaningful so I didn't want to be there. I like the idea of having students do a project after a social justice picture book. That way they can try and connect with it and think about what they could do to help the cause. Being the one and only teacher embracing social justice would be so difficult! IUPUI has given us that platform to speak out for social justice and I am grateful for that! Thanks for you response!
Abby,
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jazzy when she said "Students need to also feel like they have a choice in what they are learning about because if it isn’t relevant to them then why will they want to listen?!?" because this is so true! without engaging the students in a classroom that is relevatnt to things going on in their life then they will not feel the need to listen or participate. i know that if you have open discussions about these things in the classroom they will feel they are in a safe place. even in a diverse school we never addressed social issues and the curicullum was very textbook based. i think in saying this it shows that the teachers we experienced did not try to disucss these topics even in enviornments when they were activley taking place. i would go about being the only teacher as trying to present ideas to my coworkers or try to adress it for the school because it is important and it needs to be talked about, i think even if you are the only teacher it is defintley a learning experience. i think if they are not comfortbale with it as your principal then reading your contract when you first get hired on would be really important because working for someone that doesnt want that implemented in classrooms would be a dealbreaker for me. i think it would be a challenge but a learning experience for sure
Bailee,
DeleteYes! It is so important to engage our students with things that are important to them. I think open conversations are very important because you get the students thinking to then form their own conclusions and opinions. Even though we may be the few teachers that are willing to talk about these subjects that is still making a difference. I agree, it would be pretty hard for me to be at school that doesn't promote the idea of social justice in the classroom.
Abby,
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Jazlyn and Bailee on that quote. Students should get to have a say in what they want to talk about, so they can enjoy the conversation and become engaged in a relevant topic concerning them. Students are going to learn best when they are excited to learn and can create meaning with the work they are doing. Talking about social justice issues that affect the students or people in their life, they are going to be engaged and pay attention. I had a similar experience in high school and I too feel I was placed in a bubble and deprived of this knowledge and set at a disadvantage. In my placement now, my students LOVE community circle and talking about social justice issues. They get to feel heard and represented. They love asking questions and getting to explore the many things other adults might shield from them. It is awesome to see and I look forward now to implementing these topics into my future classroom.
Yes! Students need to be excited about what they are learning about or else there is no point. The bubble that we are placed in can really hurt us and set us back. I think it is awesome that in your class know your teacher is talking about social justice issues! That is great they are putting their critical lenses on.
DeleteAbby,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and everyone who has already commented on the quote "Students need to also feel like they have a choice in what they are learning about because if it isn’t relevant to them then why will they want to listen?!?" I know when I was in k-12, I never really paid attention to what we were doing, and only did the bare minimum to get through the material with average grades. Students should have a say in what they’re learning so that they can get excited and engaged. If a student brings up a topic that may be seen as controversial, it’s so important to facilitate a discussion on this so that students learn not only how to respectfully share their opinion, but also learn how to listen to others and respect their viewpoints as well. If I was the only teacher talking about this, I would continue bringing it up to administration and my colleagues, and I’d provide evidence based research on why these topics are so important to talk about in classrooms.
I'm glad everyone is relating and loving the quote! Yeah I always did what I needed to get done in school and nothing else. I was focused on getting a good grade and not what I was actually learning. They should feel comfortable talking about social justice issues and know that their opinions are valued. They don't always have to agree with everyone's opinion but they can listen and know that not everyone is going to agree with them. Thanks for your response!
DeleteUnfortunately there is now a community of modern SJW's that conflate political correctness and cultural sensitivity with censorship. "No one's allowed to say anything that would offend anyone! And if you do we will publicly chastise you for being such a terrible person!" (I know I'm mostly referring to extremists, but the very existence of that kind of logic is troubling) It's a toxic ideology that is more suppressive than progressive. We NEED to push boundaries if we're going to make any progress whatsoever. Don't be afraid to talk about controversial topics, especially when it can benefit your students in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that to mention the importance of making these subjects relevant to our students. If the kids don't feel like it applies to them, they feel no real obligation to learn about it. That's why it's so vital that we teach them early on, so that they can build a better understanding of how it relates to them, their classmates, their community, and so on. Get them interested! Get them thinking about this stuff! Great blog, Abby! ^_^
That is crazy to know their is still people put there that are like that! We do need to keep pushing that boundary because it is SO important. Students do need to have that connection to the curriculum or there is no point to teach it! This will make a more welcoming community and make everyone feel that their opinion matters.
Deletemy comment is very similar to the one I posed in Stephanie's blog post, that being if you have students who are unwilling to discuss issues because it goes against the grain of behavior that they have learned in other classes. should our focus be to challenging these students with issues and not rely on student being the solo lead in these discussions.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying students should just start talking about this on their own, but we as TEACHERS should be initiating these conversations that the STUDENTS lead.
DeleteHey Abby!
ReplyDeleteYour fourth question really got me thinking! I feel that no matter which approach you take, you'll ALWAYS have someone confront you about social justice in the classroom! I think the best way to handle it is to hand out some sort of document at the beginning that explains what I will be doing and why. Most of the confrontation is wondering why you're doing it and why you feel it is your place to do so. What I would do is create a FAQs section that includes any common questions that I think I might get. I would answer those with as much detail and explanation as possible for the parents, staff, and anyone else who may get ahold of the document. In addition to the FAQs, I would leave a note on there that says there is open communication and they can contact with any further questions or thoughts concerning the document or the school year. I feel that the more knowledgeable we are and the more confident we are in why we feel the way we do will also help others understand our viewpoint on integrating social justice in the classroom. Great job on this, Abby!
I agree that handing out a document talking about the social justice issues that we will be discussing in class is important to give to parents and even administrators. I think an FAQ is a great idea! This is a way we can answer questions before they are even answered. We can make ourselves and our students more knowledgeable by having these conversations in class!
Delete