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...