Classroom Example:

High School �

Teacher: Isabel Morales, Los Angeles, CA

Topic: Social Justice

Purpose: Engage students in thinking about systemic injustice at the start of a multi-disciplinary unit

Question Focus

The disciplinary policies of our society perpetuate injustice.

Student Questions

1. Why are student of color targeted the most?
2. How do disciplinary policies target specific racial groups?
3. Do teachers nationwide take notice of these stats?
4. How can teachers develop better & effective disciplinary policies?
5. Why do people see the stats & data as a coincidence?
6. What does a kid learn about the system once in jail?
7. What do people believe expulsion will teach the students?
8. Does going to juvie have a long-term effect on younger students about education?

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9. When will it get better?
10. What are some ways to improve behavior?
11. What type of training will teachers go through that’ll bring justice to classrooms?
12. Shouldn’t school police officers be trained like teachers?
13. What is considered a criminal offense in school?
14. Isn’t it the teacher’s job to keep the students “in line”?
15. How should disruption in class be handled?
16. How come there aren’t any policies keeping students out of prison?

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Next Steps

• Students decided to research statistics and poll students and teachers.
• Students met with the school administration to ask questions and address their concerns.
• School principal founded a student advisory council, which many students joined, to give students a voice in new policies.

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