Social Justice 12

Dear Colleague:

I am writing to you on behalf of the Social Studies Provincial Specialist Association to encourage your school to consider offering Social Justice 12 to students in the coming school year. Due to recent media reports of the Abbotsford School Board’s ban on Social Justice 12 and their recent reversal of that decision, their controversy has sparked a lot of interest in the course.

Our PSA  supports the implementation of Social Justice 12 in all secondary schools throughout B.C. Therefore, we are encouraging Social Studies teachers to offer to teach the course in their schools. The course is an elective course that is Ministry approved. Currently, there are teachers who are in English, Social Studies, Humanities and Music departments teaching this course. There is no provincial exam attached to the course. Below is some information that you may find helpful for putting in your student course calendars and school newsletters to promote the course. I have also included some simple steps that your school can take to create student interest in the course.

 

What is Social Justice 12?

This is an exciting new elective course that is currently being offered in some school districts in B.C. It was approved by the Ministry of Education in August 2008. The course focuses on a wide variety of social justice issues. The IRP is well laid out with specific PLOs which move students through three stages of social engagement. Initially, awareness of social justice issues is developed as students begin to explore SJ issues from various perspectives. Next, students analyze SJ issues to gain a more thorough understanding of them. Finally, students pick specific issues to focus on and develop their own personal action plans for making change in an area they feel passionate about. In this way, they progress from awareness to analysis and action on a social justice topic of their choice.

The course is an excellent opportunity for students to become agents of change regarding relevant social justice issues that affect their lives and communities.

The new IRP is available on the Ministry of Education web site at:

http://wwwbced.gov.bc.ca/irp/social_justice12/sj12irp2008.pdf

"Making Space," is another new resource document to support teachers in discussing social justice issues across the K-12 curriculum, it is now up on the Ministry of Education website at:

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/program_delivery/ss.htm

 

How Schools Can Support Social Justice 12?

Here are some quick ideas on how to encourage secondary schools in your local to offer Social Justice 12 in the coming semester. What schools can do:

  • Ask school counsellors to list the course in calendars so that students have the option to sign up for it

  • Talk it up with students in Global Issues, Multicultural or Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Clubs to create a “buzz” for the course

  • Let all Grade 11 and 12 students know that they can register for it. Tell them that this course has no prerequisites.

  • Encourage colleagues who are passionate about Social Justice issues to teach it.

  • Post a vacancy for a job in your school if there are enough students signed up to take it and no staff member volunteers to teach the course

  • Explain to your principal and colleagues that this is a course where students can learn about social justice and injustices, think critically and analyze issues and then act to make positive change in their community and the world. The course covers many forms of oppression and is intersectional in nature.

  • Inform students and parents about the content of the course. Page 33 of the IRP gives an excellent overview of the course.

 

Sample Descriptions for Course Selection Calendars

  • “What is social justice?  Social Justice is the assurance that the basic human rights of all people are upheld.  Examine social justice issues such as racism, homophobia, sexism, poverty, and globalization.  This course will offer you the opportunity to look at the causes and consequences of oppression and injustice, both in Canada and globally.  Challenge yourself to be an educated, fair and open-minded global citizen! This is a project and research based course.”

  • “Develop ethical reasoning skills as you explore issues of oppression and injustice in a Canadian and Global context.  You will be asked to define personal and social responsibility when examining oppression based on ability, age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital and family status.  You will analyze both the causes and consequences of injustice and explore viable solutions by understanding how social change has occurred in the past.  Challenge yourself to become an ethical, socially responsible global citizen. This is a case study and research based course.  There is no final exam, but a final action project will be required of all students.”

 

Thank you in advance for your consideration and support in teaching Social Justice 12.

 

Sincerely,
Raquel Chin
Social Studies PSA President
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