Teachers For Social Justice and the US Social Forum

Just following up on my last post concerning Social Justice and its impact (and potential impact) in public schools. On what is one of the more important T4SJ (teaching 4 social justice) websites (here OH AND THERE IS ONE — AND MORE –IN CALIFORNIA HERE) is a breakdown on their proposed curriculum. But just as importantly, on the right hand side of this page (linked above) is a listing of “Upcoming Events!” and right there is the US Social Forum (where they proudly claim, Another Education is Possible at the US Social Forum!) that some people seem to think would never, ever, on any significant level, be a part of any legit educator’s summer training schedule.

The curriculum suggested for a T4SJ educator has already been covered here, and it centers around A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers.

This plan book offers space for daily planning, neat quotes to share with your students, and points of emphasis on a daily basis.

• Weekly planning pages packed with important social justice birthdays and historical events
• References to online lesson plans and resources related to those dates
• Tips from social justice teachers across the country
• Inspirational quotes to share with students
• Thought-provoking essential questions to spark classroom discussions on critical issues
• Reproducible social justice awards for students

The “List of Resources” by themes is very interesting (link). Some excellent topics and ones any teacher should use in balance with what some might call, I don’t know, traditional historical resources. You know, the Constitution, George Washington, Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, World War 2, ect.

T4SJ, however, is not interested in balance or objectivity and this is my main problem with the movement.

What I pointed out the other day I will admit is a very radical meeting of T4SJ proponents. Traditional Social Justice teachers focus on inequality and racism, which are important themes. Only for them, they teach that EVERYWHERE and EVERYTHING (White related) is about racism and injustice. They educate kids about White Privilege, as titled here “Teaching Against White Privilege and Other Atrocities” (This is from a list of Conferences presentations by one of T4SJ’s most important advocates). I know what they think “White Privilege” is as I sat in a seminar once. I refuse to teach it and “other atrocities,” enough said!

These educators agree with this statement made by one of their own: “Howard Zinn saw no contradiction between teaching and activism. In fact, for him they were inseparable.” (source). Meaning, your job as a teacher is not about education, it is about activism and indoctrination. That is also a big reason why I loath most aspects of T4SJ.

Now am I saying that T4SJ educators are radicals who hope that one day we can, for example, replace Capitalism with Marxism or Socialism? I sure hope not, but the US Social Forum doesn’t help T4SJ’s case.

Here is another interesting resource for T4SJ educators and proponents. (Note: I just love the hammer and sickle logo, you know like Stalin and the Communists used. Do they know that under Communism more people have been murdered than there were by the National Socialists — Nazis?)

We have Environment Justice, Human Justice, ect., and it all sounds great, who would not want justice? Great, but I am for “Equal Justice.” What do I mean by Equal Justice, I mean the complete opposite of T4SJ. Instead of explaining it here for you, I will point you to a lecture by Thomas Sowell, The Quest for Cosmic Justice. Dr. Sowell is an African-American professor of economics and author of a lot of books, and frankly is a lot smarter than I. Cosmic Justice addresses, in a unique way, the proponents of Social Justice.

Hope this helps some of you who can’t seem to wrap your head around my point. If not, I am sorry I do not know what more I can do for you.