Social Justice

Owned by Darlene Edgar
Last updated: Apr 11, 2024
3 min read

Wang, F. (2018). Social justice leadership—theory and practice: A case of Ontario. Educational Administration Quarterly, 54(3), 470–498. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0013161x18761341

  • Equity Promotion and Overcoming Barriers

    • Dan emphasizes the importance of educating teachers about student needs to combat deficit mentality.

    • Dean highlights the necessity of imagination and openness to uncertainty for effective social justice work.

    • Reference to Foster's work on leadership in ambiguous situations and Wilkinson's perspective on recognizing opportunities in chaos.

  • Staff Changes and Collective Agreements

    • Ella, John, and Ida discuss how staff turnover and collective agreements can hinder social justice work.

    • Ella notes the impact of unplanned teacher changes on school capacity and equity efforts.

  • Resistance Among Marginalized Principals

    • Paula shares experiences of encountering resistance due to racial stereotypes.

    • Examples include being labeled as only advocating for equity due to racial background.

  • Challenges of Socioeconomic Inequality

    • Participants express concerns about the impact of poverty on students' academic success and life chances.

    • Dan emphasizes the need for additional resources and support for students from low-income backgrounds.

  • Time Constraints

    • Many participants discuss the scarcity of time as a constraint in their work.

    • Challenges include disruptions, excessive paperwork, and limited opportunities for collaboration.

  • Critique of Time Allocation for Events

    • Sara questions the efficacy of dedicating time to celebrate specific themes.

    • She suggests integrating social justice values into the overall school culture instead of segregating events.

  • Financial Constraints

    • Several participants mention financial limitations hindering social justice efforts.

    • Dan, John, and Molly explore ways to redistribute resources effectively to address pressing needs.

  • Facilitators of Social Justice

    • Importance of relationship-building with stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents, and boards.

    • Participants highlight the role of supportive teachers, engaged students, and involved parents in advancing social justice initiatives.

  • Leadership Strategies

    • Principals emphasize the need for empowering staff, hiring for social justice, and fostering a positive school climate.

    • Strategies include ongoing staff development, promoting teacher involvement, and cultivating a sense of ownership among students.

  • Positioning and Limitations

    • Principals discuss their varied roles and perspectives in promoting equity.

    • Limited systemic understanding of institutional norms and practices affecting social inequities is highlighted, suggesting a need for deeper systemic leadership approaches.

Vural, K., & Konakli, T. (2022). Social justice based teacher practices: Leadership roles, problems, and proposed solutions. International Journal of Educational Reform, 31(4), 378–396. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/10567879221113540

  • Introduction:

    • The article explores social justice-based teacher practices, focusing on leadership roles, problems encountered, and proposed solutions.

    • It emphasizes the importance of integrating education and social justice, particularly in addressing issues of inequality in access to education.

  • Contextual Challenges in Turkey:

    • Turkey faces challenges such as declining equal access to education, gender inequality, and socioeconomic disparities between schools attended by wealthy and poor students.

    • Issues like early marriage, oppression, and lack of equal opportunities for female students highlight the urgency of addressing social justice in education.

  • Teacher Leadership and Social Justice:

    • Teacher leadership is viewed as a form of social justice in action, extending beyond the classroom to contribute positively to the school environment.

    • Effective teacher leaders demonstrate vision, build positive relationships, and actively strive to achieve educational goals while promoting social justice principles.

  • Implementation of Social Justice Practices:

    • Teachers play a significant role in implementing social justice practices, particularly in decision-making processes that affect students' access to education and opportunities.

    • International projects, support from school administrators, and collaboration with various stakeholders are crucial in facilitating the implementation of social justice practices.

  • Evaluation of Social Justice Practices:

    • Teachers employ various evaluation methods, including pre-and post-tests and monitoring of student outcomes, to assess the effectiveness of social justice practices.

    • Positive outcomes include the creation of a positive school climate, increased student confidence, improved parental attitudes towards education, and enhanced cooperation among teachers and students.

  • Teacher Leadership Roles:

    • Teacher leadership roles in implementing social justice practices include fostering teamwork, innovation, problem-solving, empathy, and fairness.

    • Empathy and understanding of individual experiences of disadvantage are highlighted as crucial leadership characteristics.

  • Challenges Faced during Implementation:

    • Organizational challenges such as bureaucratic procedures, lack of administrative support, and time constraints hinder the effective implementation of social justice practices.

    • Individual challenges include parental resistance, limited participation, and disruptions caused by staff turnover.

    • Environmental factors such as economic challenges and resource procurement also pose significant obstacles.

  • Proposed Solutions:

    • Solutions include streamlining organizational procedures, enhancing collaboration with local authorities, raising parental awareness, and providing education and training for teachers and prospective teachers.

    • It's crucial to support schools and students in socioeconomically underdeveloped regions to ensure equitable access to education.

  • Stages of Social Justice Practices:

    • The stages include recognizing the need for social justice, decision-making, examining examples, seeking support, and evaluation.

    • These practices aim to create a positive school climate, promote democratic values, and minimize problems arising from individual differences.

This comprehensive study sheds light on the importance of teacher leadership in promoting social justice in education and offers valuable insights into the challenges faced and potential solutions for implementing social justice practices in schools.