Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers

I received my latest newsletter from my Social Justice friends and in it they are promoting their latest teacher planning book, “Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers 2010-2011.” [Link]

There is a sample you can download which shows on a day-to-day planner for teachers highlighting all of the important figures and events of American History that can be celebrated.

For example, on Veterans day, a Social Justice teacher will highlight the following:

Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau. This
organization provides knowledgeable speakers
who share first hand information about military
service and war. They present facts and views
that are necessary for a young person to
consider in making an informed choice about
military service. (E, M, H)

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/

Speakers_List.vp.html

Or how about Thanksgiving, you know the Pilgrims:

Thanksgiving
Oyate. Oyate is a Native American organization
that lists recommended children’s books on
Native American history and culture. The
website features a list of Thanksgiving books to
use and ones to avoid. (E, M, H)

http://www.oyate.org/catalog/index.html

Unlearning Indian Stereotypes by Rethinking
Schools. Narrated by Native American children,
the DVD Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes
teaches about racial stereotypes and provides
an introduction to Native American history
through the eyes of children. Includes teacher
guide and other resources. (E, M, H)

http://www.rethinkingschools.

I don’t have a problem with any of this so long as there is some balance, fairness. There is no attempt at any kind of fairness, only “social justice.” Note that the emphasis on the above is how we as educators teach, apparently, “Indian Stereotypes” and that we must help our students “unlearn” this knowledge. Hello? Where in this Country are teachers teaching, I don’t know: how the Red Man slaughtered poor Custer?

Teaching for Social Justice, again, is about activism and “change” that has nothing to do with Historical understanding and objectivity (critical thinking) [see here, here and here] and nothing to do with modern education. It’s about a usable past so that radicals such as those who teach Social Justice can indoctrinate their students to think less of themselves as Americans, to ultimately despise much if not most of our history, and deny any form of American Exceptionalism. We are Global Citizens. We are what has been wrong in the world, ect.

The Social Justice movement is a movement without a true cause. They think that American Schools and textbooks are trapped in some kind of time warp around the 1950s or something.

They apparently have not noticed that today in American Schools you can be chastised by your Teacher for drawing an American flag or sent home for wearing one.

Social Justice is in many schools and even entire districts:

To create a more just and equitable world…we need new tools that are as practical as they are thoughtful. This social justice planner is one of those tools!
-Tony Smith, Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District

I was so satisfied with the content, and I thought all of the ideas were fantastic! I also really liked the layout, and I thought that it worked well for my purposes.–Sarah, elementary school teacher

I love it. I love that everyone at school knows it’s mine.–Ellen, elementary school teacher

I love not only the layout of the book, but the inspiration it gives me each day.–Ruby, middle school teacher

Helps to remind you of important people/events that are not covered in traditional teaching materials.
–John, high school teacher

As I planned I was able to keep my goal of empowering students in mind….I LOVED the awards in the back. I used them!–Wanda, elementary school teacher

I thought it was very well organized and the information about various cultures was awesome…It doesn’t give you the complete story behind every noted day, which makes you go and research the information yourself.–Tom, high school teacher

The issues linked to specific dates gives you a “reason” to bring up a topic. Another strength is the links to lessons.
–Wendy, middle school teacher

There are many powerful things about it…the weekly quote, the amazing resources for special days, the notations of important dates and people.–Elizabeth, Ohio Department of Education consultant

If I had a child in a school district where teaching for Social Justice was their strategy, I would get that child out of the school.