ASSIGNMENT | NCATE and social justice

Recently, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), an organization that provides professional accreditation for schools, colleges, and departments of education, removed social justice as one of the professional dispositions that teacher education programs should develop in their students.

At the following web resource, you will find links about the NCATE\’s decision and commentary on both sides of the issue. Take some time to review these resources:

http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0078024404/student_view0/part_two/chapter14/internet_exercises.html

After you review the links/resources, craft your own personal definition of social justice. Then, in 250 – 300 words, create a coherent answer to the following:

Do you think that a commitment to social justice is something that should be required of a teacher? Do you hold this belief regardless of whatever reasons motivated the teacher to enter the field? Can a person\’s commitment to social justice be separate and apart from any political motivations they may hold? Is social justice an ideological term?

SAMPLE SOLUTION

NCATE and Social Justice
For a long time, classrooms have been used as avenues for advocating for social change as well as places for generating new ideas. Social justice can be defined as a practice of appreciating leaners for who they are and as valuable contributors to the classroom space. It is all about teachers exercising humanity, equity and truthfulness in undertaking their teaching mandate.
Social Justice Commitment
It is first important to respond to this question by noting that teaching is a noble profession that is not meant for any person who goes in it. Teaching can be described as a service that doesn’t need compelling of any kind. For that case, I don’t think teachers should be compelled to be committed to social justice. In any case, teachers ought to develop a culture that promotes equality as well as educate leaners to avoid racism, bullying and other social vices (Adams…