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Questions about the justice School…
1.) Can you explain the structure of the class? The class is broken up in to segments, there will be a time for community building, learning about social justice, discussing the topic of the lesson, a small activity, snack time, and reflection time. 2.) Is the program religious? The school is welcoming of youth from all faiths. We affirm the right for people to worship and celebrate their religious beliefs. The program will not push a particular faith on the students, but we will explore many religions to build an understanding and respect of world religions. 3.) What topics will you discuss? We will learn about a variety of subjects. I have planned a number of lessons that are focused on the foundations of social justice organizing and community respect. At the Justice School we don't have rules, we have keys to community. These keys open doors for people to respect and learn from one another. Our students will explore the importance of respecting one another not only within the walls of our school but how respect and communtiy building are vital to their lives outside of the classroom. Some of the topics will be chosen by the students using a voting system. They will choose three subjects from a list, here are a few of the subjects I will be offering to teach: Learn about the World Through Food- Explore an important part of every culture: Food, through dishes we will not only feed our bellies but our minds full of knowledge about the various cultures of this world and it's people, The Iraq War: Creating Connections with Iraqi Civilians and U.S. Soldiers, Corporations-Commercials-Consumerism and Youth: How do big companies target and "brand" young people, Animal Rights: What needs to change? How can we help? And how can be educate others about this issue? Homelessness and Poverty: What is classism? Why are there people without homes in Boston? In what ways can we make a difference... all year round, not just during the holidays. Exploring the Diversity of Religion and Spirtuality in Massachusetts: What different religious groups live and worship in our state? What is religious discrimination and how do I educate my friends about religious stereotyping and assumptions? 4.) Isn't the age range too broad? Once all of our students have registered we will adjust the program accordingly. In 2007 we successfully worked with a broad age range spanning six years old to thirteen years old. The students enjoyed the diverse age range and learned alot from this unique experience. |
| A note from the director:
I am honored to be the director of this program. If you have been trying to find a social justice education program for your child, look no further. Many people think young children are not ready to tackle ideas like war,racism, heterosexism, religious discrimination or classism. Surprisingly, young people are far more open to new ideas than some adults. Children find great joy in forming their own opinions and can build a powerful understanding and empathy for people who hold different identities than themselves. This program will teach children about social justice and human rights, but it will also help young people build their self-esteem, start to decide what is fair and what isn’t fair (just and unjust), understand youth empowerment, have fun, make new friends, exercise their social skills, learn about youth empowerment! - JooYoung Choi |
| • Students will develop an understanding of activism and social justice organizing. • Students will be able to identify which issues they are passionate about. • Students will learn about systems of oppression and how activists have taken a stand against such injustices. • Students will learn the importance of community and friendship. • The Justice School will encourage young people to become agents of positive change. • The Justice School will educate young people who both identify and don’t identify as activists. • The Justice School hopes to support and nurture its proactive peace and justice community of and for a mixed age group of children and youth. |
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| What are the goals of the Justice School? |
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| Director JooYoung Choi and her sister Suji Choi. |
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