Welcome to the first week of Exploring Social Justice Standards! Over these four videos, we embark on a journey to explore the Social Justice Standards, adapted from the work of Learning for Justice. Over the coming weeks, we will break down these standards into actionable insights, providing a structured approach to anti-bias education.
In this first video, our focus is on understanding the goals of anti-bias education and how the Social Justice Standards support these goals.
What is Anti-Bias Education?
Anti-bias education is an approach to teaching and learning that fosters understanding and respect for differences while actively challenging bias, stereotyping, and discrimination. According to the Anti-Defamation League, it includes:
- Inclusive curricula that reflect diverse experiences.
- Instructional methods that advance learning for all students.
- Strategies to create safe, inclusive, and respectful learning communities.
This educational framework encourages a civil society by valuing diversity and addressing injustice in schools and communities.
The Four Goals of Anti-Bias Education
The Social Justice Standards are rooted in the foundational work of Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards, who identified four goals of anti-bias education: Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action. Learning for Justice expanded these goals into 20 anchor standards, which serve as a comprehensive framework for anti-bias learning.
Activity: Sorting the Anchor Standards
This week’s activity focuses on identifying how each standard aligns with the four anti-bias domains. Here’s how to participate:
- Access the Handout: Download and open the activity PDF.
- Cut the Standard Strips: Prepare the strips for sorting.
- Match Standards to Domains: Group each anchor standard under the domain it aligns with: Identity, Diversity, Justice, or Action.
Take a moment to pause and complete this task before continuing.
Understanding the Anchor Standards
Let’s review how each standard fits within its respective domain. You can access the standards here.
Identity Domain Standards
- Develop positive social identities.
- Learn language and cultural knowledge affirming multiple identity groups.
- Recognize the complexity of multiple identities.
- Express pride and self-esteem without devaluing others.
- Navigate identity across different cultural spaces.
Diversity Domain Standards
- Engage respectfully with diverse individuals.
- Use language to describe identity similarities and differences.
- Foster open-minded exchanges about history and experiences.
- Build empathy, respect, and understanding through diversity.
- Examine diversity in a broader social, cultural, and historical context.
Justice Domain Standards
- Recognize and move beyond stereotypes.
- Identify and confront individual and systemic unfairness.
- Analyze the impacts of bias and injustice historically and today.
- Understand how power and privilege shape relationships and society.
- Explore the history and strategies of social justice movements.
Action Domain Standards
- Show empathy toward those excluded or mistreated.
- Recognize the responsibility to challenge exclusion and prejudice.
- Speak up respectfully when witnessing bias or injustice.
- Make principled decisions to stand against injustice.
- Plan and execute collective action against bias, evaluating effective strategies.
Reflection and Discussion
After completing the activity, reflect on your sorting process:
- Were your choices consistent with the anchor standards’ intended domains?
- What insights did you gain from the activity?
Remember, the Social Justice Standards are not linear; they function as interconnected gears, emphasizing that identity, diversity, justice, and action work in harmony.
Next Steps
This week, we’d like to share developmentally appropriate student learning outcomes created by Learning for Justice. These outcomes will help you incorporate the Social Justice Standards into your classes on Outschool.
Let’s continue to explore and apply these standards, ensuring our teaching fosters equity, respect, and meaningful learning experiences.
