The Quest for Social Justice

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The Quest for Social Justice

• A Critically Engaging Curriculum
• Quest High School

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Social Justice

• Social justice is based upon the notion that all
  individuals deserve equitable access and
  treatment in regard to societys rights,
  opportunities, and amenities planning and
  development should be constituent based, and
  injustice and discrimination must be addressed
  and rectified . The concept of social justice
  also demands a commitment to real tangible
  results as a measure of effective action. As
  such, social justice requires increased awareness
  of community problems, most especially those
  stemming from inequities and forms of oppression
  and active engagement in addressing such issues.
  Social Justice integrates increased knowledge
  with the tools necessary for advocacy and social
  action (MissionVisionIdeological Foundation
  1-2).

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Social Justice Curriculum

• According to an issue brief entitled Exercising
  Sovereignty Rights through a Social Justice
  Curriculum
• A social justice curriculum examines the power
  structures that are established through the use
  of classism, sexism, and racism. However, to be
  truly emancipatory, education must go beyond
  analysis and effect a social change. A social
  justice curriculum is the union between thinking
  and acting without acting the thinking is just
  for thought, and without thinking action is
  ill-conceived. A social justice curriculum needs
  to look at the interplay of societal and school
  structures and contexts and how they influence
  learning.

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Engaging Curriculum

• Successful engaged learners are responsible for
  their own learning. Engaged learning also
  involves being collaborativethat is valuing and
  having the skills to work with others.
• In engaged learning, tasks need to be
  challenging, authentic, and multidisciplinary.
  They are authentic in that they correspond to the
  tasks in the home and workplaces of today and
  tomorrow.
• Assessment of engaged learning involves
  presenting students with an authentic task,
  project, or investigation, and then observing,
  interviewing, and examining their presentations
  and artifacts to assess what they actually know
  and can do.

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Begin With the End in Mind
Quest High Schools Mission Statement Quest
High School is committed to providing a
personalized learning experience in partnership
with the community to produce lifelong learners
and successful members of society.

Invisible Children Video 100 percent
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A small group of thoughtful people could change
the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever
has. Margaret Mead

• Think globally act locally

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A Schools Quest for Invisible Children
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Humanities Curriculum Pyramid
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Curriculum Standards

• QHSLB4a3 Uses historical and political knowledge
  to evaluate domestic and world events
• QHSLB1b10 Investigates using close examination
  and systemic inquiry
• QHSAF4d7 Identifies and analyzes social
  problems created by expressions of individuality
  and efforts used to promote social conformity by
  groups and institutions.
• LB4c2 Justifies and articulates beliefs and
  values
• LB3d1 Participates/works as a team member to
  solve problems and produce solutions.
• AF4g4 Evaluates the effectiveness of
  multinational organizations in the global area.

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Essential Questions

• How do I look at things from here?
• From where I am, what contribution will I make?
  

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Awareness

• Global Issues
• Movie Beyond Borders
• Celebrities

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Awareness

• Issue Complexity

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Relevancy

• Apple lab
• World population
• Footsteps
• Perspective Pocahontas
• Council Meetings

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Experience

• Doctors Without Borders Simulation

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Experience

• Invisible Children
• Displacement in Northern Uganda
• Video Movie Trailer

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Passion for Invisible Children

• Kids our age and younger
• Real/personal
• Kid drawings
• Moving kid stories
• Powerful
• Emotional
• Background of issue

• Kids still kids
• Desperation
• Horrible Conditions

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Strategy Quest High SchoolFor Schools

• Video Schools for Schools
• THE SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN
• Introducing a program that¹s bridging cultures,
  connecting people and impacting lives. Schools
  for Schools is a unique initiative that rallies
  students across the world to think of creative
  fundraising ideas to rebuild schools in northern
  Uganda, ultimately bringing 10 of the country's
  war-torn schools to a nationally competitive
  standard. Students and schools who sign up to
  make a difference are connected via an
  interactive online community where they can track
  how much money they¹ve raised, how it¹s helping,
  and what others across the globe are doing to
  make an impact.
• Quest High Schools focus will be the building of
  safe latrines.

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Strategy

• Senior class
• Brainstorm ways to make money
• Divide into small groups
• Spread the word

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Action

• Halloween dance
• Bracelets
• Vending machines
• Community garage sale
• Battle of the bands
• T shirts
• Partners
• Pamphlets
• Website
• Civic Engagement Summit

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Sustainablity at Quest

• Website http//qhs4s.6te.net

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Sustainability

• Established schools in Uganda
• Leaders for countrys future
• Water
• Teachers
• Buildings
• Technology
• Latrines

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Closing Thoughts

• Mahatma Gandhi
• When I despair, I remember that all through
  history the ways of truth and love have always
  won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and
  for a time they can seem invincible, but in the
  end they always fall. Think of it--always.
• Mahatma Gandhi
• You must be the change you want to see in the
  world.

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Questions/Further Information

• Barbara Yeatman and Kim Huseman
• Quest High School
• Humble, Texas
• barbara.yeatman_at_humble.k12.tx.us
• Kim.huseman_at_humble.k12.tx.us