EDUCATION IS SOCIAL JUSTICE TO OUR GENERATION

Education is Social Justice to Our Generation

Selena Beltran

Los Angeles Leadership Academy

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Abstract

This paper will discuss the bridge between education and social justice and explore the

idea that education really is social justice. The research will include points made by people who

are directly involved with education and see it as a service that gives and creates. The research

will include strong points argued by the Former United States Secretary of Education Arne

Duncan, who urges the country to accept the idea that education is a form of social justice, in

order to secure a better future through economic prosperity. This paper will introduce the cycle

that a quality education has on a person, themselves, their community, and the world. This

change and strive for improvement is a domino effect, a chain that reflects the door and pathway

that education creates for social change and thus, creating a direct link between education and

social justice. For that reason and others, education should be accepted and treated as much more

than just a state requirement, when it is something that benefits everyone even those who are not

educated.

Keywords: Students, Future, Social Justice, education, educational, change

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Education Is Social Justice To Our Generation.

Today, it is inferred that education is essential in the makeup of a student, but is

education really social justice? There are several types of research including research such as

media videos, newspaper articles, interviews, and book research that identifies education as a

form of social justice. This research supports the idea that when a student is brought up in a

unequal educational environment and they acknowledge that, they go on to pursue a higher

education to help themselves and their communities, later impacting the world. As a result, they

find themselves fighting for improvement and equality to find a fair balance for others who will

go through the same situation. This change and strive for improvement is a domino effect, a

chain that reflects the door and pathway that education creates for social change and thus,

creating a direct link between education and social justice.

What Is Education? Who Should Have An Education?

Many believe that education is what students gain by attending educational settings,

others may think differently. Greg Mullenholz, a Washington Teaching Ambassador, suggests

that Education (is) a dividing line between success and failure (p.1, 2011). In other words,

Mullenholz believes that education is the key for any student to succeed in life and create change

in their own world. This idea implies that without education students would not pursue and

create goals for themselves and thus, the future (2011). To follow, Lisa Hiltbrand, a role model

to the Career Girls organization Hiltbrand, is a strong advocate for the idea that education is

about, creat(ing) opportunities for students' voices to be heard (2014). Hiltbrand, believes that

through education comes opportunities. These opportunities give students the security and

possibilities that they need in order to change the world considering that opportunities grant

students the freedom to develop unseen and unheard of ideas that are an essential part of the
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process. Most importantly, former United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who

advocates for the idea that education is a value as deeply ingrained in the American spirit as

service itself. (p.1, 2009). Duncan argues that education is an important aspect of the American

spirit by comparing it to the social services that are provided to the American people (p.1,

2009). Therefore, the value of education is just as important as the value of providing a service to

others, services that carry the ideals of social justice. Therefore, education is social justice and as

a mark of social justice, education creates a chain of progress for the current and future

generations.

What Is Social Justice?

If education is about creating change and improvement then, what is social justice? Who

deserves social justice? DellAngelo Tabitha, author of Creating Classrooms for Social Justice,

suggests that social justice is recognizing and acting upon the power that we have for making

positive change. Teachers do this every day in many ways (p.1, 2014). DellAngelo, advocates

for the idea that social justice is a big part of creating change and developing new and innovative

ideas. These ideas are developed and put into practice through the help of teachers on a daily

basis. Therefore by doing so, teachers provide a social service and improve the quality and

meaning of the education they provide to their students. Moreover, Adams, M., Bell, L.E.,

Goodman, D.J., & Joshi, K.Y. state that, social justice involves social actors who have a sense

of their own agency as well as a sense of social responsibility towards and with others, their

society, the environment, and the broader world in which we live (p.3, 2016). The writers

offers the idea that with the help of education students are able to find a path in life that is filled

with many opportunities alongside change; that not only affects them in a school environment

but, also affects society, the environment, and the world around them, all in a positive manner.
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Why Is Education A Form Of Social Justice?

Since education is about improvement and students are both in need of social justice but

also act as agents of social justice, then education is undoubtedly a form of social justice. People

who work or volunteer in the educational world like Lisa Hiltbrand, who is a role model for the

Career Girls organization, advocate ideas that suggest that, having an education can change

(students) lives (2014). Hiltbrand also conveys the idea that with an education people are able

to find progress and change that creates improvement (2014). That idea serves as a link between

education and social justice, as it suggests that after progress and improvement students can help

others do the same. Furthermore, as best stated by former United States Secretary of Education,

Arne Duncan, education is the civil rights issue of our generation (p.1, 2009). Duncan explains

that education is the key to having the life that a student strives and dreams about, through

education goals are endless. In fact, for many, education is, the one true path out of poverty.

(Duncan, 2009). Ultimately, advocates of education and people who have first hand experienced

the benefits of an education understand that education is a social service that creates a domino

effect if and when education is treated and accepted as a realistic form of social justice.

Are There Social Justice Schools?

The big question now is, are there really social justice schools out there? Author of

Creating Classrooms for Social Justice, Tabitha DellAngelo states that, this isn't something

that just gets done in diverse classrooms, or classrooms that lack diversity, or urban classrooms -

- or any other special category of school. It is a way of teaching and being that supports high-

level thinking and learning throughout our lives. (DellAngelo, p.1, 2014). Teaching through

social justice allows students to think on a higher critical level that encourages them to explore

and think deeper and harder about how they really see the world. In fact, Erika Hayazaki of the
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Los Angeles Times and writer of Making Social Justice Part of the Curriculum interviewed

Roger Lowenstein, founder and former Executive Director of Los Angeles Leadership Academy

to discuss his vision for creating a school environment with a strong foundation on social justice

(Hayazaki). In his interview, Roger states that, "the whole idea behind the Leadership Academy

is that, if kids take power in their lives and communities, it makes them much more attached to

their education (Hayazaki, p.1, 2002). Roger is a strong advocate for the belief that

incorporating social justice in the lives of the students motivates them to appreciate and build a

relationship with their education as well as their community. Moreover, a close relationship with

the community and their education creates a strong force of change and progress for those

making the change and those receiving it.

Who Benefits From Education As A Form Of Social Justice?

Understanding how connected education and social justice are, creates the awareness that

everybody benefits from education as a form of social justice. Former United States Secretary of

Education Arne Duncan, makes a strong point by saying that, education is the key to our long-

term economic prosperity. (p.1, 2009). Through his lecture delivered at Harvard University,

Duncan advocates for the pivotal role that education has on the country and focuses on the

connection education has on the economy. He continues by pointing out that we are still waiting

for the day when every child in America has a high quality education that prepares him or her for

the future. (Duncan, p.1, 2009). Duncan who was a big part of the educational field in the US

advocates for the idea that the key to a better and more economically settled future is simply

education or at least in the United States education is key. In a sense education is what makes the

world go round. He is a strong believer that every child in America should have access to an

equal education for the sake of a more improved future. By and large, anybody that is trying to
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get educated and anybody who is involved in the educational system in any way is involved in

the formation of creating change to make a better future for all after all, education reform is a

daily fight for social justice (Duncan, p.1, 2009).

Conclusion

As has been noted, education is essential in the makeup of a student who through the

education becomes a refined version of who they were and then is able to improve not only for

themselves but for others but not limited to including their community and close environment.

As a domino effect, education leads to social changes and a cycle of improvement and progress,

all leading to a better tomorrow. Education has been, continues to be, and will forever be a tool

of social justice for all generations.

References

Adams, M., Bell, L.E., Goodman, D.J., & Joshi, K.Y. (2016). Teaching for Diversity and Social

Justice. New York, New York: Routledge.

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Career Girls, (2014, January, 17). Teacher: Education and Social Justice - Lisa Hiltbrand

Career Girls Role Model. [Video File]. Retrieved

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNN6Ioyjzqg

DellAngelo, T. (2014). Creating Classrooms for Social Justice, Tabitha DellAngelo, Retrieved

from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/creating-classrooms-for-social-justice-tabitha-

dellangelo

Duncan, A. (October 9, 2009) Call to Service. Harvard University. Cambridge, MA..

Retrieved

from

https://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/call-service-lecture-harvard-university

Hayazaki, E. (2002). Making Social Justice Part of the Curriculum. Los Angeles Times.

Retrieved

from http://articles.latimes.com/2002/oct/09/local/me-class9

Mullenholz, G. (2011, October, 25). Education is Social Justice. Cambridge, MA.. Retrieved

from https://blog.ed.gov/2011/08/education-is-social-justice/