- "Over time, I realized that it is essential to have clear
ideas and goals for my students in the kinds of literacy
skills I want them to leave with in June" (Singer 14);
- "Good teachers have good lives" (15);
- "The more students understand their own process, the
more they have as writers" (18);
- and, "I am adopting the position that to understand
literature is not simply to read it, but to identify with
it in some way....A true critical literacy does not only
understand these stories but takes action to make
positive social change" (43).
Social justice pedagogy is a valid, vibrant, and valuable foundation for unit or year-long curriculum. Social action's facilitation of real-world-relevant thinking, and creation and implementation of endeavors based on students' own interests is commendable; but, more than simply noteworthy, activism is worthy of becoming the "norm" and core of classrooms and schools.
While searching online for pictures or videos of Jessica Singer Early or her book, I came across recent issues of Educational Leadership, a journal of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), which offer numerous articles and resources on social responsibility. In the May 2009 issue, Laurel Schmidt's article (also) entitled"Stirring Up Justice" begins, "When we embrace social justice as a pillar of learning in our classrooms, we declare that we're all responsible for improving our world." This month's online edition features "A School for Peace and Justice" by Elliott Seif; the article focuses on the redirection of Philadelphia's Parkway High School for Peace and Justice, a magnet school that has seen test scores and attendance rise, suspensions decrease, and graduation rates reach 100% since pairing with Public Citizens for Children and Youth to adopt the magnet school theme of peace and justice. "Service Learning: The Power to Inspire" includes model units on social action for fourth grade and high school classrooms. Finally, Steve Wolk's article "Reading for the World" offers picture books, nonfiction, Young Adult literature, short stories, poetry, and graphic novels to inspire and guide social justice teaching and learning. Enjoy!