Media stories about the state of public education abound. So how do we make decisions and engage in critical conversations about the future of our public schools and society? We must be discerning about the information around us. Thinking about what information is provided, the source, why a story is developed, and whose perspective is represented and whose is missing can be valuable in evaluating accuracy and reliability and in understanding the intent behind media information.
Polarization is toxic to democracy and limits us — as individuals, organizations and nations — in our ability to respond to the critical needs of today. A culture of dialogue creates opportunities to reach across our differences and to engage one another, which is crucial for strengthening democracy, especially in the face of growing authoritarianism. Embracing a national identity built on democratic values can help us recognize our shared humanity. These Learning for Justice resources can help build understanding to address the questions: What is dialogue across difference?
The well-being of children should concern us all. This crucial election week, we must unite in choosing a more inclusive and democratic society. Georgia educator Katie Rinderle, who was fired for reading a children’s book about acceptance, encourages us to advocate for all children, reminding us of the importance of our votes at all levels, including local school boards. And feature articles from our new fall magazine on food insecurity and the critical need to end the school-to-prison pipeline emphasize the critical need to live up to our nation’s democratic values.
Dialogue creates opportunities to reach across differences and to engage with and understand one another, without losing the integrity of our work for equity and justice. In the new Fall 2024 Issue of Learning for Justice magazine, the first two features, “Dialogue Across Difference” by Brandon Haas and “The Promise of Building Bridges” by Maia Ferdman and Felicia Graham, examine how dialogue is foundational for civic engagement and democratic collective action and offer a model to foster a culture of meaningful exchange, empathy and critical thinking.
