Social Justice Issues in Education
Part I: Reflection
Discuss your understanding of social justice in education.
Social justice in education revolves around fair treatment for all students and equitable distribution of resources. Social justice intends to create a safe space for all students regardless of their innate differences (Alvarez, 2019). Students have different academic, emotional, physical, and psychological needs in a school setting, meaning they all need different resources. Social justice aims to treat them equally and ensure that each student can access the resources they need without any hindrances.
Explain ways to create a learning environment that honours, educates, and respects all learners from all backgrounds.
All learners require various initiatives to create an environment that honours, educates, and respects. First, respecting students is one of the main initiatives. As an instructor, one should demonstrate respect for all learners regardless of their age, capabilities, and differences. Secondly, illustrating cultural tolerance, sensitivity, and awareness is important because all learners come from diverse cultures. Thirdly, it is important to utilize methods of instruction that engage and involve the learners actively (K-State College of Education, 2016). This ensures that all students can participate in the class and go through the learning process with minimal challenges.
Share the social justice topics that interest you the most and why.
Social justice topics that pique my interest include gender equality, healthcare, and education. These topics are important because they can affect not only an individual but also their families and the wider community. The lack of gender equality shuts out some of the children or individuals from opportunities that could change their lives. Lack of access to healthcare jeopardizes an individual’s productivity affecting their financial capability and the local economy. Lack of access to education limits an individual’s progress widely and leads to low literacy in a community. Addressing these aspects is important in ensuring that the individuals and community have unlimited growth and progress opportunities (Autin, Batruch, & Butera, 2015).
Part II: Selecting a Topic
Education is a significant aspect of social justice because it empowers individuals. Through education, children get a chance to grow socially, cognitively, and even emotionally. Education provides hope for future career progression and empowers the individual and the wider community. Educators help children realize their value as well as power through teaching. Every individual has a unique perspective on life and the world at large; cultural backgrounds shape this unique perspective (K-State College of Education, 2016). Through education, individuals learn to look at the world from other scholars’ perspectives and realize that global concepts reach far beyond personal perspectives. This results in critical thinking because an individual can question their own beliefs and perspectives as well as others (Autin, Batruch, & Butera, 2015). Educated citizens are important to an economy both at the national and local levels. Citizens who can think critically are important in finding solutions to a country’s problems.
The impact of education on my leadership style.
Education plays a critical role in my leadership style because I act with knowledge. I choose styles that engage and involve the learners. Participative leadership styles promote their thinking abilities and accommodate their input, which is important in making their voices heard.
The impact education has on the community and families you serve.
As an educated citizen, my interactions with the families and local communities are more fulfilling. They perceive me as a role model, especially for their children. Inspiring others to pursue education encourages me to commit to offering the best guidance in my position.
How education relates to current trends within early childhood education.
Early childhood education is gaining superior importance because of its influence on children. As such, educators at this level must be well-trained and capable of taking children through the process. As a result, more early childhood educators are expected to undertake specific studies that enable the development of required competencies.
The impact education has on social justice within the early childhood education field.
As educators develop the required competencies, they also learn about the importance of equity in education. They strive to ensure that the children in their classrooms experience social justice in the smallest ways that are equally significant. The incremental activities and change lead to social justice achievement in the wider system over time as they affect the children positively.
References
Alvarez, B. (2019). Why Social Justice in School Matters. Retrieved from National Education Association: https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/why-social-justice-school-matters
Autin, F., Batruch, A., & Butera, F. (2015). Social justice in education: how the function of selection in educational institutions predicts support for (non)egalitarian assessment practices. Front. Psychol., 6. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00707
K-State College of Education. (2016). A walk in my shoes: social justice in education. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWdcN2RSHhI
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Question
In preparing for a career working with young children, it is imperative to examine and understand current trends in early childhood education. Likewise, you should consider how you can impact the future of young learners by understanding social justice for all students. In this journal, you will explore strategies for creating a learning environment that honors, educates, and respects all learners. Additionally, you will choose a topic of interest for your final project.
In your journal, discuss the following:
Part I: Reflection
Discuss your understanding of social justice in education.
Explain ways in which you can create a learning environment that honors, educates, and respects all learners from all backgrounds.
Share the social justice topics that interest you the most and why.
Part II: Selecting a Topic
From the topics you mentioned in your reflection, choose one to use for your final project. There is no right or wrong topic here, you will simply pick a topic you feel most interested in and provide your rationale.
Based on that topic, discuss the following:
Identify the topic you choose for your final project.
Provide a rationale to support your choice.
Discuss the impact this issue has on your leadership style.
Describe the impact this issue has on the community and families you serve.
Explain how this issue relates to current trends within early childhood education.
Describe the impact this issue has on social justice within the early childhood education field.