Anti-oppressive Education
…Leading to Social Justice
Class Outline
• Introduction to anti-oppressive education and social justice
• Self awareness activity• Discussion of “Posts” article in small
group format• Discussion of Indecently Exposed in
small group format• Large group debriefing of article and
video• Closure
Oppression is:
A social dynamic in which certain ways of being in this world,including certain ways of identifying or being identified, are normalized or privileged while other ways are disadvantaged or marginalized.
Forms of oppression include:
Forms of oppression include:• Racism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism• Heterosexism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism• Heterosexism• Anti-Semitism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism• Heterosexism• Anti-Semitism• Ablism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism• Heterosexism• Anti-Semitism• Ablism• Colonialism
Forms of oppression include:• Racism• Classism• Sexism• Heterosexism• Anti-Semitism• Ablism• Colonialism• And other isms….
From:http://www.oswego.edu/~prusso1/circle_of_oppression.htm
Circle of Oppression:Oppression is socially constructed, not individual.
Social Justice
Social Justice
• The Government’s Agenda for creating a fair and equal society where ‘everyone matters’
Social Justice
• The Government’s Agenda for creating a fair and equal society where ‘everyone matters’
• Equitable access to resources and the benefits derived from them; a system that recognizes inalienable rights and adheres to what is fair, honest, and moral. (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
How privileged are you?
And the survey says…..
Approaches to Anti-oppressive Education…
Approaches to Anti-oppressive Education…
• Subtle ways like changing the wording of issues
Approaches to Anti-oppressive Education…
• Subtle ways like changing the wording of issues
• Obvious ways like creating learning situations that help students to be critical observers of their environment
What can teachers do?
What can teachers do?
• Teach students to value difference, recognize injustice, and take action to question injustice
What can teachers do?
• Teach students to value difference, recognize injustice, and take action to question injustice
• Critically evaluate and modify curriculum, materials, and teaching strategies
What can teachers do?
• Teach students to value difference, recognize injustice, and take action to question injustice
• Critically evaluate and modify curriculum, materials, and teaching strategies
• Expand personal and professional knowledge about issues of oppression and marginalized groups
What can teachers do?
• Learn from and collaborate with other teachers who teach for social justice
What can teachers do? (cont.)
• Learn from and collaborate with other teachers who teach for social justice
• Take a stance in their personal, social, and professional lives to work for social justice
Discussion Time!!!
1. Form two small groups.
2. Use the discussion guide to discuss Kumashiro’s article.
3. Exchange two members with the other group.
4. Discuss the video (second page of the discussion guide).
Removing Oppressive Lenses(Kevin Kumashiro)
• Education for the Other (recognizing oppression and its effects)
• Education about the Other (recognizing stereotypes)
• Education that is Critical of Privileging and Othering (looking at society and white priviledge)
• Education that Changes Students and Society (resistance, crisis, resignifying of self)
• racism
• sexism
• classism
• heterosexism• ablism
• Anti-semitism
• colonialism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism
• sexism
• classism
• heterosexism
• ablism
• Anti-semitism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism
• sexism
• classism• heterosexism
• ablism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism
• sexism
• classism
• heterosexism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism
• sexism• classism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism• sexism
Lenses of Oppression
• racism
Lenses of Oppression
Anti-oppressive Lens
Perceptions free from oppression, let teachers focus on individuals.
Never judge me till you’ve walked a mile in my shoes...