More Than Words? Delving Into the Substantive Meaning(s) of “Social Justice” in Education
Abstract
At the dawning of the 21st century, the term “social justice” is appearing in numerous public texts and discourses throughout the field of education. However, and as Gewirtz argued in 1998, the conceptual underpinnings of this catchphrase frequently remain tacit or underexplored. This article elaborates Gewirtz’s earlier “mapping” of social justice theories by examining the tensions that emerge when various conceptualizations of social justice collide and, in turn, their implications for the field of education. By presenting a model of the complex, fraught interactions among diverse claims about social justice, the author seeks to promote continued dialogue and reflexivity on the purposes and possibilities of education for social justice.
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The Lead Teacher approaches social justice from a Western colonized stance by focusing on helping students hear these voices, and subsequently help to amplify those voices, without having the children ask 'how do those voices relate to what I know?' and 'do those voices ask me to change my thinking?'.
“Rather, the Lead Teacher approaches social justice from a Western colonized stance by focusing on helping students hear these voices, and subsequently help to amplify those voices, without having the children ask ' how do those voices relate to what I know? ' and ' do those voices ask me to change my thinking? ' (North, 2006).”
From Creating third spaces in K-12 socio-environmental education through indigenous languages: a case study (2024) · cites this paper as North, 2006
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References 112 · Cited by 373
- Authors
- North, C. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Corresponding author
- North, Connie E.
- Venue
- Review of Educational Research
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 507-535
- ISSN
- 0034-6543 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-1046
- OpenAlex
- W2120580429
- Cited by
- 373
- References
- 112
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 39.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Review of Educational Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Critical and Liberation Pedagogy
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Education, Philosophy, and Society
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies
- Keywords
- social justice, education for social justice, social justice theory, reflexivity, educational purposes
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