Social justice education is crucial right now to develop the next generation of responsible decision-makers. This week’s resources from the Fall 2023 Learning for Justice magazine explain the importance of educating children early and in age-appropriate ways about their identities and key concepts about race. And they point out the significance of learning about honest history, in the classroom and in communities, as we reckon with the past to build a more just future.
Current events may be hard to grapple with as multiple historically Black colleges and universities faced bomb threats, Minneapolis police fatally shot Amir Locke, and many states and districts continue to ban teaching inclusive books and talking about race. Amidst these aggressions, we want to remind Black educators to practice self-care—and all educators to elevate the importance of Black students’ experiences and their mental health. These resources can help.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're sharing resources for destigmatizing conversations about this critical topic. We hope you'll read, share and use them to make your classroom, school and district safe and inclusive for all students.
In a year during which lawmakers across the country continue to restrict the rights of transgender people—particularly transgender students—we encourage you to propose supportive policies and lead critical conversations about transgender and nonbinary students at school. These resources can help.