ETM 501 - Foundations of Social Justice Teaching

Credits: 3
This course challenges candidates to reflect on their individual beliefs in relationship to social justice teaching and gain a deeper understanding of the historical struggles for equity in education. Using Freire’s (1970) philosophy of social justice teaching as a context, candidates analyze issues of race, class, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and ableness and examine how these categories intersect to reproduce inequality. Candidates also explore the social and educational impact of institutional racism, culture, privilege, poverty and wealth. Each candidate constructs a narrative centered on his or her personal relationship to these social justice dimensions. Candidates develop new teaching approaches and perspectives that facilitate a positive reframing of student self-perception.