Social Justice

Many scholars have tried their hand at defining “Social Justice.” At the core of their deliberation, Goldfarb and Gunberg (2002) summarize the action behind words such as, but not limited to:

• Equity
• Equality
• Inclusionary
• Respect
• Recognition
• Non-marginalized
• Fairness
• Individualized
• Ethical
• Excellent

Through the following statement or definition of Social Justice:
 “as the exercise of altering those arrangements (institutional and organizational power arrangements) by actually engaging in reclaiming, appropriating, sustaining, and advancing inherent human rights of equity, equality, and fairness in social, economic, educational and personal dimensions, among other forms of relationships,” (Goldfarb and Gunberg 2002 p. 162).

We encourage you to help create this definition by submitting words for inclusion in the list above, or your own definition of Social Justice.

Click HERE to submit your ideas.



Research Highlights from the Urban Forum:

Banks (2004) Teaching for Social Justice

Quartz (2003) Too angry to leave - supporting new teachers commitment to transform urban schools

Tripp (1990) Socially Critical Action Research

Gerner de Garcia et al (1997) Creating multicultural schools for deaf children and their families

MPS (www.dpi.state.wi.us), (www.milwaukee.k12.wi.us) Characteristics of a High Performing Urban Classroom





Education for Social Justice

Friere, P. (1998).  Pedagogy of Freedom: Ethics, Democracy and Civic Courage.  NY:  Rowman and Littlefiled Publishers, Inc. 

Shor, I., Friere, P. (1987). A Pedagogy for Liberation: Dialogues on Transforming Education. CT: Berginot Garvey. 

Darling-Hammond, L., French, J., and Garcia-Lopez, S. P. (2002).  Learning to Teach for Social Justice.  NY:  Teachers College Press. 

Rothenberg, P. (2005).  White Privilege.  NY:  Worth Publishers.

UWM Authors on the subject of Social Justice