Introduction to Social Justice Education

Education 691E

January 1999

January 6 - January 23

Instructor: Khyati Y. Joshi

506 Goodell

413-545-1787 (office)

617-666-9405 (home)

khyati@educ.umass.edu

Office Hours by Appointment

Course Description

This course is an introduction to understanding issues of social diversity and social justice in the United States. This course provides students with 1) a theoretical framework for understanding the dynamics of oppression, 2) an opportunity to expand their awareness of specific forms of oppression, and 3) a process to explore how the specific forms of oppression affect their personal and professional lives.

Class Schedule

6 Jan	Wednesday	11-4	14 Jan	Thursday	1-4
7 Jan	Thursday	1-4	19 Jan	Tuesday	1-4:30
8 Jan	Friday	11-2	20 Jan	Wednesday	1-4
11 Jan	Monday	1-4	21 Jan	Thursday	1-4
12 Jan	Tuesday	1-4	22 Jan	Friday	11-5
13 Jan	Wednesday	1-4

********Please make note of the different times************

Grading

This class is mandatory P/F class. Students will be evaluated on how thoroughly they respond to each written assignment . Students will not be evaluated on the content of their beliefs or whether or not they agree with the perspectives on oppression presented in the class.

Course Requirements

1. Punctual daily attendance.

2. Reading and writing assignments for each ism section.

The readings have been designed to further your understanding of issues presented. For this written assignment complete the following:

A. Identify the major concepts and/or insights that your derived from the article;

B. Discuss whether these concepts/insights are consistent with your believe or whether you have different views from those presented.

Remember: Whether you agree or disagree with the material, you are expected to support your beliefs with clear and articulate statements. Each summary should be two-three typed page.

3. List of Annotated Websites.

Surf the Internet and find websites of your choice that combines Social Justice issues with those of and K-5 Issues. Review 10-15 sites related to sexism, heterosexism, racism, classism, religious oppression, immigrant student issues and others that are related. Provide a brief summarty of the website highlighting key points. Due: 20 January Wednesday.

4. 10 Quick ways to analyze Children’s books for Sexism and Racism. Due: 21 January Thursday.

5. Final Reflection Project (three components). Due 26 January 1999 Thursday by Noon.

I. Reflections on an ism where you are the target of oppression.

II. Reflections on an ism where you are the agent of oppression.

III. What is the impact of these identities on your teaching practice? With what new questions to assess your teaching practice?

Readings

Students need to buy the following which can be found at Food For Thought Bookstore in Amherst.

Conceptual Frameworks Reader

Sexism Reader

Rethinking Our Classrooms

All other readings will be given in class and/or found on the Internet.

Make-Up Assignments

Make-Up assignments for absences will be substantial since you are making-up the content for an entire class, and possibly an entire “ism.” Usually a make-up assignment will involve attending an outside event (lecture, movie,etc) related to the topic that was missed. A comprehensive summary paper, as well as, a reflective paper will be reacquired. Details will be worked out on an individual basis.

Web Page

Our course syllabus is posted on the World Wide Web at the following address:

http://www.unix-oit.umass.edu/~khyati/691e.html

This homepage will point you to some of the reading materials of the course and will have other websites that will significantly supplement our course materials. Links to sites of relevance may be added as we proceed through the semester. Please check our homepage regularly. E-mail additional site addresses to me and I will add them as appropriate. Please let me know if any sites are defunct or have moved. Any suggestions regarding this page would be very much appreciated.

If you have any questions or concern please feel free to call me at home or work. I also can be reached via email.

6 January Wed Conceptual Frameworks

Readings:

“Five Faces of Oppression” by Suzanne Pharr and “Domination - Subordination” and two articles of your choice in Diversity and Oppression: Conceptual Framework

Homework:

Willingness to Learn & Work “Who Am I” Sheet

Short Paper from “Concepts” Reading

7 January Thurs Sexism

Readings:

History of the Women’s Movement

http://www.legacy98.org/move-hist.html

History of Woman Suffrage in the United States

http://www.city-net.com/~lmann/women/history/timeline.html

“Backlashes Then and Now” by Susan Faludi in Sexism Reader

“Squeezed into Gender Envelopes” by Warren Blumenfeld in Sexism Reader

Jerri Cobb

http://www.city-net.com/~lmann/women/history/jcobb.html

Assignment:

Short analysis paper.

8 January Fri Heterosexism

Readings:

Private Conversations: Middle School Teacher Patty Smith's story illustrates the power of everyday conversations with our colleagues.

http://www.glsen.org/pages/sections/people/educators/007.article

“What Teachers can do” GLAAD

http://www.glaad.org/glaad/iec/can-do.html

GLSEN Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

http://www.glsen.org/

The Massachusetts Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth

http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/gcgly/index.htm

Assignment:

1)Find a subject area and explore. What area did you choose? What did you find?

Queer Resources Directory

http://www.qrd.org/

2) Response Paper to “Private Conversations” and “What you can do?”

11 January Mon racism

Readings

Blacklash by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

http://www.msstate.edu/Archives/History/USA/Afro-Amer/backlash.gates

Language of Closet Racism by Paul Gorski

http://aace.virginia.edu/go/multicultural/papers/langofracism2.html

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

http://www.tincan.org/community/action.shtml

Cultural Policy in U.S. History

http://www.wwcd.org/policy/US/UShistory.html

Assignment: Short Analysis Paper

12 January Tues Classism

Readings:

ð “The Land of Opportunity” in Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything your American History Textbook got Wrong by James Loewen, Simon & Schuster, 1995.

ð “Are you middle class” by Barbara Ehrenreich in Utne Reader September/October 1992

ð “Canto, Locura Y Poesia” by Olivia Castellano in Race Class and Gender: An Anthology by Margaret L. Andersen and Patricia Hill Collins.

Assignment: Short Analysis Paper

13 January Wed Religious Oppression

Readings:

Neighboring Faiths: How will Americans cope with increasing religious diversity?

http://www.harvard-magazine.com/so96/faith.html

Challenge of Pluralism

http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/html/article-cop.html

"One Nation Under God: How the religious right changed the American conversation" by David M. Shribman. The Boston Globe Magazine, January 10, 1999.

Assignment: Short analysis paper

14 January Thurs Immigration and Social Identity Models

Readings:

ð “Social Identity Development Model” in Conceptual Frameworks Reader

ð “Expanding Definitions: What it means to be American” in Nieto, S. (1996). Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers, USA.

ð “What’s in a Name? Self-Respect, Validation of My Identity, and a Sense that My Teachers Care” by Khyati Y. Joshi

Teaching Immigrant and Migrant Students

http://educ.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v2i2/immigrant.html

Assignment: 1) Think about yourself in the Social Identity Development Model 2) Short Analysis paper for Nieto, Joshi and the website.

19 January Tues Making Connections: Intersections of Oppression

Readings:

ð “Can White Heterosexual Men Understand Oppression?” by Cooper Thompson in Sexism Reader

ð “Invisible Latinos: Excluded from Discussions of Inclusion" by Harry P. Pachon.

Racism has its privileges

http://humanitas.ucsb.edu/projects/aa/docs/Nation-3-27-95.htm

The Origins of Affirmative Actions

http://now.org/now/nnt/08-95/affirmhs.html

FYI

The Affirmative Action and Diversity Project

http://humanitas.ucsb.edu/aa.html

Assignment: (1) Short Response Paper. 2 page paper. (2) Short Analysis Paper for "Invisible Latinos" and the two websites

20 January Wed Internet /curriculum issues

Readings:

ð “Multicultural Education and School Reform” in Nieto, S. (1996). Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education. White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers, USA.

ð “Transformative Pedagogy and Multiculturalism” by bell hooks in Freedom’s Plow edited by Theresa Perry and James Fraser, 1993.

Assignment: Annotated List of Social Justice Education Websites

21 January Thurs School/Curriculum issues

Readings:

ð “Teaching for Social Justice: One Teachers Journey” by Bob Peterson in Rethinking Our Classrooms

ð “Ten Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Sexism and Racism” by the Council on Interracial Books for Children" in Rethinking Our Classrooms

ð “Why Student’s Should Study History: An Interview with Howard Zinn” in Rethinking Our Classrooms

Assignment: Your analysis of 5-8 children’s Books - Classroom Presentation

22 January Fri Ally Building and Closing

Readings:s

ð Ally Building: Action Continuum, Interrupting Prejudice Exercise

ð “Becoming an Ally”

ð Tatum, B. D. (1994). Teaching white students about racism: The search for white allies and the restoration of hope. Teachers College Record(Summer).

General Reading List

Albrecht, L. & Brewer, R. (Eds.). (1990). Bridge of Power: Women’s Multicultural Alliance. Philadelphia: New Society Pub.

Allport, G.W. (1979). The Nature of Prejudice. Reading MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

Blumenfeld W.J. ( 1992) Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price. Boston: Beacon Press.

Faludi, S. (1991). Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women. New York: Doubleday Anchor Books.

Fanon, F. (1963). The Wretched of the Earth. NY: Grove Press.

Freire, P. (1985). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. NY: Continnum.

Ignatiev, N. & Garvey J. ( 1996). Race Traitor. New York: Routledge.

Memmi, A. (1965). The Colonizer and the Colonized. Boston: Beacon Press.

Morris, J. (1991). Pride Against Prejudice: Transforming Attitudes to Disability. Philadelphia: New Society Pub

Pharr, S. (1988). Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism. Iverness, CA: Chardon Press.

Rothenberg, P. (1992). Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study. NY: St. Martins.

Takaki, R. (1989). Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans. New York: Penguin Books.

Tatum, B.D. (1997). “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” New York: Basic Books.

Young, I. (1990). Justice and the Politics of Difference. New Jersey: Princeton Press.

West, C. (1994). Race Matters. New York: Vintage Books.