Teaching for Social Justice Books

From the contributors: “Small schools provide a context in which social relations between and among youth and adults, school and community, parents and teachers, and among educators are imbued with respect, reciprocity, and commitments to a larger common good.” ―Michelle Fine “There are a host of irrefutable reasons why small schools are the easiest, most economical, and wisest single school reform idea around.” ―Deborah Meier “Instead of the distrust and hostility which typically characterizes parent-teacher relations, small schools make it possible for parents and teachers to work together through their recognition of their common interests in providing for the education and well being of children.” ―Pedro Noguera “Small schools have the potential to be powerful places for students to learn and for adults to grow and flourish . . .to be communities where social justice is practiced, not just talked about.” ―Nancy Mohr Written by major players in the small schools movement, this collection of essays points to the ways school restructuring strategies connect to the ongoing pursuit of social justice. The editors bring together writers who are both educators and advocates for youth and who think changing schools can help change the world. Building bridges to their fellow educators, these essayists make powerful arguments in favor of smaller school size as an achievable reform goal. “At this moment of educational crisis, here is a refreshingly original and inspiring collection of ideas and information. A Simple Justice suggests a bold new approach to schools, one which recognizes the natural intelligence of students, the natural compassion of teachers, and the possibility of an education founded on a common commitment to a just society.” ―Howard Zinn, Boston University

Does our society care about its children? This provocative and in-depth examination of violence in the lives of children uncovers the conditions and social policies that perpetuate violence. In addition, this volume forces us to look at other forms of violence confronting children in families, neighborhoods, and schools: The violence of poverty and homelessness The violence of environmentally induced childhood diseases The media and legislative "criminalization" of children The increasing trend toward incarceration of youthful offenders The pre-eminent contributors to this volume examine these issues from both historical and contemporary public policy perspectives. They address the myths and realities of youth violence and the impact of poverty, race, and gender. Prevailing ideas about punishment and retribution, the role of the state in terms of private or public responsibility, and the developmental needs of the child are all themes that frame the multiple advocacy perspectives presented by these cogent essays. This indispensable, fact-filled volume gets behind the soundbites about "superpredators" and “welfare moms" to reveal the violence, poverty, educational neglect, and social disregard that shape the lives of poor children. Everyone who works with kids―or who has one―should read it. ― Katha Pollitt , Columnist, The Nation “Polakow’s book is key in alerting Americans about the dangers of ‘get tough’ policies aimed at children. The contributors illustrate effectively and eloquently that our society is quite backward in respecting the interests, indeed, even the human rights of our children. They not only critique current polices that are misguided, but offer several approaches that provide hope and opportunity for all our children, and thereby serve to strengthen social democracy in the United States." ― James Jennings , Senior Fellow at the Trotter Institute, University of Massachusetts, Boston

A historical investigation into the political and ideological foundations of the "miseducation of the Negro" in America, this timely and provocative volume explores the men and ideas that helped shape educational and societal apartheid from the Civil War to the new millennium. It is a study of how big corporate power uses private wealth to legislate, shape unequal race relations, broker ideas, and define "acceptable" social change. Drawing on little-known biographies of White power brokers who shaped Black education, William Watkins explains the structuring of segregated education that has plagued the United States for much of the 20th century. With broad and interdisciplinary appeal, this book is written in a language accessible to lay people and scholars alike.

Why and how have whites joined people of color to fight against white supremacy in the United States? What have they risked and what have they gained? For anyone who has wondered about the character, motivations, and contributions of white civil rights activists, Refusing Racism offers rich portraits of four white American activists who have dedicated their lives to the struggle for civil rights. Drawing heavily on interviews and memoirs, this volume offers honest accounts of their thoughts and experiences and shows how their commitments are central to our ongoing history. "Powerful stories of courage by whites risking life, limb, and social standing for justice. They were my role models." ― Morris Dees , Chief Trial Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Center "Making the stories of white allies more visible is an important contribution to multicultural education and anti-racist literature, and I believe this book will be of interest to many educators. I am not aware of any other text which provides this kind of biographical material about white allies of historical significance." ― Beverly Daniel Tatum , author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

These essays follow a veteran teacher educator and school reform activist as he tries to understand an enterprise he calls “mysterious and immeasurable.” By focusing on the authentic experiences of teaching and learning that he has lived over the past 15 years, Bill Ayers reconsiders, argues, reflects, and searches for ways to break through the routine and the ordinary to see teaching as the important and extraordinary work it is. Covering a range of issues―standards, equity, testing, professionalism―this book shows us teaching as an achingly personal calling, and ultimately as a social and a political act. With these essays, Bill Ayers invites teachers into a wonderful conversation about the meaning of teaching as craft, as art, as vocation. He reminds us that an active kind of hope is at the core of teaching―seeing things both as they are and as they could be. “As he invites readers to look again at Kidder, Kohl, and Kozol, Bill Ayers takes us on a journey of what it means to be a teacher. He reminds us that whatever else we teach, we teach ourselves. Through anecdote and analysis, Ayers shows us why the current schemes for transforming education are so wrong.” ―Susan Ohanian , long-time teacher who runs a high-stakes testing and NCLB resistance website “The work of teacher education and professional development is largely a labor of love, a wonderful task of encouraging delight, surprise, reflection, and imagination. To have a volume like this to draw on is a tremendous asset.” ―Frances Rust, New York University

Dedication to social justice teaching is important; yet putting one’s ideals into practice in American schools is a challenging task. This book goes beyond theory and idealism to fully explore the value and impact of implementing social action and social justice activities in the elementary school classroom. Informed by the experiences of more than forty teachers across the country, this thoughtful resource: Examines how elementary teachers, from inner cities to rural towns, use the social studies curriculum to teach about and for social justice. Focuses on how teaching social studies for social justice relates to standardized testing, state curricula, and the local challenges teachers face. Offers classroom activities, “Reflection Exercises,” and “Teaching Ideas” to provide teachers with practical applications for the topics discussed. Includes a list of children’s literature books, curricular materials, and websites.

The self-conscious use of education as an instrument of liberation among African Americans is exactly as old as education among African Americans. This dynamic anthology is about those forms of education intended to help people think more critically about the social forces shaping their lives and think more confidently about their ability to react against those forces. Featuring articles by educator-activists, this collection explores the largely forgotten history of attempts by African Americans to use education as a tool of collective liberation. Together these contributions explore the variety of forms those attempts have taken, from the shadow of slavery to the contradictions of hip-hop. Contributors address “Lessons from the Past” and discuss Citizenship Schools in the South, Ella Baker and the Harlem Y, Mississippi Freedom Schools, and Black Panther Liberation Schools. Contemporary models are covered as well, demonstrating the depth and tenacity of the tradition in such efforts as the Freedom Schools established by the Children’s Defense Fund. “One of the basic lessons of the Southern civil rights movement is that you cannot predict what spark will light a fire.” ―From the Foreword by Charles E. Cobb, Jr. , senior writer and diplomatic correspondent for allAfrica.com “One of the guiding principles has to be that we cannot lead a struggle that involves masses of people without identifying with the people and without getting people to understand what their potentials are, what their strengths are.” ― Ella Baker, Advisor, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee “In the spirit of Ella Baker and Carter G. Woodson, Professors Payne and Sills Strickland have assembled a collection of writings that reveal the complex but necessary truths embedded in the lives of young people of color and organizing for liberation. This compilation is a must read for those who work in solidarity with young people to change our condition.” ― David Stovall , University of Illinois at Chicago “Teach Freedom combines a compelling history of liberatory education in the African-American community with inspiring contemporary portraits of schools and programs that build upon that tradition. In a time where high-stakes testing and narrow educational ‘objectives’ rule the day in our nation’s schools, this is a book―and a vision―we desperately need. ― Gregory Michie , Illinois State University, author of See You When We Get There

Just in time for the 2008 elections, The Seduction of Common Sense offers a powerful examination of current education policy initiatives as framed by the rhetoric of the political Right and the political Left. Critical of both sides, Kumashiro first provides a searching look at the Right and shows why it has succeeded so well in winning the debate about the purposes and possibilities of education. Here he brilliantly illuminates how the Right uses particular “frames”―appeals to conservative notions of the traditional family, free enterprise, goodness, and fear―to shape the public’s common sense ideas about schooling and build support for its attacks on public education and social justice reforms. Turning then to the Left he shows how it has failed to win support for its initiatives and goals, especially regarding racial disparities in schools. More importantly, he argues that the Left must “reframe” common sense about education to embrace a commitment to human rights, a belief in equality, and a quality education for all of our children. This is must-reading for anyone concerned about the future of public education, especially right now. Book features: In-depth analysis of specific “frames” the Right is using, successfully, to influence the general public on education’s hot topics. An examination of how the Christian Right is institutionalizing anti-LGBTQ bias by appropriating frames from the Left. A look at how the rhetoric of the Left has failed to achieve its goals, especially regarding racial disparities in schools. Suggestions for how the Left can “reframe” important education initiatives in time for the 2008 presidential election.

This book features the most important and exciting writing from the past 15 years of Radical Teacher magazine. Focusing on the personal experience of teachers and the practical realities of teaching, the essays cover Teaching About War; Teaching About Globalization; Teaching About Race, Ethnicity, and Language; Teaching About Gender and Sexualities; and Threats to Public Education: Testing, Tracking, and Privatization . This is a must read for all teachers who are committed to creative pedagogy and social justice. Contributors : Bernadette Anand, Nancy Barnes, Lilia I. Bartolomé, Bill Bigelow, Lawrence Blum, Marjorie Feld, Michelle Fine, H. Bruce Franklin, Stan Karp, Kevin K. Kumashiro, Pepi Leistyna, Arthur MacEwan, Sarah Napier, Bob Peterson, Nicole Polier, Patti Capel Swartz, Maria Sweeney, Rita Verma, and Kathleen Weiler. "For the many teachers who bring dreams of a better world to their classrooms, these richly helpful pages teach us how to do our work better." ― Ira Shor , Graduate Center, City University of New York “The radical teachers who tell their stories and present their ideas in this collection…are hoping to engage the young in inquiries that they didn’t ever imagine might interest them, and leave them wanting more.” ―From the Foreword by Deborah Meier , educational reformer, writer, and activist “In a time of ongoing conservative attacks on critically democratic education, more than ever we need resources to remind us of what the dangers we face are and what we can do about them.” ― Michael W. Apple , University of Wisconsin, Madison “For teachers with the courage and conviction to address the most important and controversial issues of our time, this book will be a source of inspiration and guidance.” ― Pedro A. Noguera , Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University “This powerful collection of essays on teaching about war, globalization, race, sexuality, and threats to public education is a wake-up call to educators at all levels: We can make a difference!” ― Jean Anyon , Graduate Center of the City University of New York, author of Radical Possibilities “Controversial issues are precisely among the topics that young people need to learn about, explore, and debate if they are to become productive and hopeful citizens. Controversies in the Classroom is a gold mine of ideas and strategies to help them do just that.” ― Sonia Nieto , Professor Emerita, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

In this time of narrowed curricula and high-stakes accountability, Gregory Michie’s tales of struggle and triumph in Holler If You Hear Me: The Education of a Teacher and His Students are as relevant as ever. Since it was first published in 1999, Holler has become essential reading for new and seasoned teachers alike and an inspiring read for many others. Weaving back and forth between Michie’s awakening as a teacher and the first-person stories of his students, this highly acclaimed book paints an intimate and compassionate portrait of teaching and learning in urban America. While the popular notion of what it’s like to teach in city schools is dominated by horror stories and hero tales, Michie and his students reside somewhere in between these extremes―“between the miracles and the metal detectors.” This updated 10th Anniversary Edition of Michie’s moving memoir of teaching on Chicago’s South Side includes a new foreword by Luis J. Rodriguez, a new introduction and a new afterword, as well as updates on his students. "Michie is a passionate believer in the power of education." ― Teacher Magazine “A decade later it’s still alive with relevancy, ideas, and voices.” ― Luis J. Rodriguez , author of Always Running: La Vida Loca―Gang Days in LA “A must read for all who care about social justice and educating the future generation.” ― JoAnn Phillion , Purdue University

Grow Your Own Teachers describes the evolution of a local school reform movement in Chicago that now serves as a model for change in schools and teacher preparation programs across the country. Grounded in the grassroots organizing tradition, the Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher initiative involves collaboration between community-based organizations and colleges of education in preparing community members to teach for change in their local schools. Incorporating rich stories and the perspectives of foremost teacher educators, students, and community leaders, this book offers an alternative framework for teacher education that will provide urban students with the education they deserve. It will also provide adult community members with an example of higher education that can lead to a rewarding professional career. Essential reading for anyone involved in school reform, this important book: Shows how to put into practice a community-based social justice oriented approach to teacher preparation. Examines the role of parents in shaping school reform efforts. Includes a chapter by Gregory Michie describing teachers of color working for change in their neighborhood schools. Includes a chapter by Linda Darling-Hammond looking at how GYO compares to other educational reform efforts.

In this book, the authors present a new kind of interdisciplinary pedagogy that brings together antipoverty grassroots activism and relevant social theories about poverty. Closely linked to the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary, this unique book combines the oral history of a renowned antipoverty organizer with an accessible introduction to relevant social theories, case studies, in-class student debates, and pedagogical reflections. This multilayered approach makes the book useful to both social activists committed to eradicating poverty and educators looking for ways to teach about the struggles for economic and social justice. Pedagogy of the Poor is an essential tool of self-education and leadership development for a broad social movement led by the poor to end poverty. Featuring a 5-part series of interviews with Willie Baptist, this important book examines: Firsthand examples of the poor organizing the poor over the past 3 decades. The effect of neoliberalism, high-tech capitalism, and the economic crisis on poverty. Theoretical lessons drawn from the Watts Uprising, Martin Luther Kin, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign, and the National Union of the Homeless. The role of religion and morality in the antipoverty movement. The relevance of hegemony theory and ideology theory for social movements. Resources, methods, and practices for teaching social justice.