Addressing Issues of Social Justice

In light of recent events, the SCOLT Board of Directors reiterates the statement published in June, 2021. We stand in solidarity with other organizations in condemning the systemic inequalities in our country. Racism, bigotry, and white supremacy have no place in our world, and we vow to do our part to help eradicate these hateful ideologies.

As world language educators, we are dedicated to equality, inclusion, and  diversity. It is our responsibility to create a safe, supportive, and open classroom environment in which students learn to embrace the diversity of our world and respect our differences. We must help future generations develop world views that value and respect not only our similarities, but also our differences.

SCOLT encourages all teachers to be intentional and reflective in addressing issues of social justice. We are committed to helping teachers make a difference in the lives of their students. As such, we recommend the resources listed below, including a recorded webinar presented by SCOLT on this topic.

Suggested Resources for Social Justice in Education 

Courageous Classrooms Webinar Resources, and Questions and Answers

ACTFL Resources (Curated resource list) – Resources for Language Educators that Address Issues of Race, Diversity, and Social Justice

SCOLT 2018 Dimension (Journal) – A special issue of SCOLT’s journal, devoted to issues of social justice.

Words and Actions: Teaching Languages through the Lens of Social Justice (Book) – This publication supports in-service and pre-service teachers in recognizing their students’ diverse backgrounds while also supporting students’ ability to think critically about the world around them.

Teaching Intercultural Competence Across the Age Range: From Theory to Practice (Book) – This ground-breaking book is the first to describe in detail how teachers, supported by university educators and education advisers, might plan and implement innovative ideas based on sound theoretical foundations.

Social Justice and Representation with LJ Randolph (Podcast) – In episode 82, Dorie Conlon Perugini interviews LJ Randolph about what it means to teach languages for social justice and how teachers can think about representation in their classrooms. LJ shares resources, big ideas, and practical examples for teachers who want to explore what social justice might look like in a language classroom.

Teaching Tolerance website (Website) – This is the primary website of Teaching Tolerance, providing a range of resources to support the organization’s mission, “. . . to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy.”

USC Diversity Tooklit (Website) – This website provides activities, resources, and explanations to guide discussions regarding identity, power, and privilege.