Incorporating social justice in the curriculum can be a difficult task, but it is one that educators must consider if they want to create a curriculum that is both relevant and effective. To incorporate social justice into the curriculum, educators must first understand what it is and how it can be applied to their students.
Simply put, social justice is the belief that all people should have equal rights and access to opportunities. This includes not only people who are traditionally considered to be marginalized such as people of color but also those who are considered to be privileged. In order to ensure that all students have an opportunity to participate in and benefit from social justice, educators must ensure that all curriculum content is inclusive and reflective of the diversity of their students.
To apply social justice in the classroom, educators first need to know what their students are learning. Social justice curricula should be integrated into all content areas, but some areas are more appropriate than others. For instance, social studies classes are a good place for discussing how historical events have impacted society, while English classes are a good place to discuss how the writings of authors such as Jane Austen reflect social justice issues.
Once educators have a good idea of what their students are learning, they can begin to incorporate social justice concepts into their lessons. For example, in history classes, students can be asked to discuss how the slave trade impacted the development of America. In English classes, students can be asked to read passages from the literature that discuss social justice issues such as racism or poverty.
Incorporating social justice into the curriculum is an important step in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow. By carefully selecting which social justice concepts to teach and how to teach them, educators can create a curriculum that is both relevant and effective.
