Should Social Justice Be Taught In Class?

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There has been some backlash from parents regarding teachers educating their students on social justice. They say that teachers are being paid to teach science, math, and language, and not share their opinions. But with such a pressing topic that will eventually affect the lives of their students in the future, should social justice be taught in class?

Education has always been political, from the readings assigned by teachers to the historical omissions published by some books. Keep in mind that teachers are there to teach students and not to indoctrinate them with biased information. In the classroom, students develop critical skills. And including social justice in the classroom can simply expand the learning curriculum and further inform students of injustices happening today.

Think about it this way. If there’s a major issue that’s being talked about everywhere, in the news, social media, and by peers alike, wouldn’t silence from educators be a negative indicator? It’s important to talk about relevant issues with students because when they unite, they form a much larger and much louder group compared to educators. And it’s necessary for teachers to help guide their students when talking about social justice.

Teachers should not impose their beliefs but rather help guide students to what really matters: what they stand for, what they want to say, and what they want to do. By being role models, we can help guide the youth in changing history the way they see fit.

The goal of Adam M. Smith as an educator is to make sure that every student leaves the classroom with enough understanding of the subject matter to have an informed discussion about current social, political, and economic issues around the dinner table. For more articles on education, visit this page.