Introduction
Social justice and inclusion have become important parts of the modern world, especially within the Scottish education system. They allow pupils to reach their full potential and to become fully integrated whilst at school, regardless of background or disability. However these terms are ever changing and require a lot of thought and determination to be fully fulfilled within schools. This paper will look at the importance of social justice and inclusion as well as considering different views on the topics. It will also focus on the teacher’s role in achieving an inclusive environment within school and the implications for learning.
Literature review
Defining social justice and inclusion
The concepts of social justice and inclusion are both heavily interlinked and the pair complement each other throughout policy and literature.
The term social justice is normally used when referring to the ideas of equality and providing equal opportunities to pupils within school, regardless of their background, history or circumstances. Views of social justice can change depending on who is discussing the topic.
The Scottish Government have been tackling social justice for many years. In 1999 they published a report titled “Social Justice – a Scotland for all” as well as putting in place an action plan and a task force. However within these reports there was not an actual definition for what they perceived social justice to be.
Moving forward to 2002 and the then
The concept of social justice is based of human rights and equality, this is the way people are treated in everyday life. The text I am currently studying is The story of Tom Brennan and I am seeing how this has some aspects of social justice like alcohol abuse and property vandalism.
Social justice is defined as promoting a society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity. It exists when all people share a common humanity; therefore, they have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights, and a fair distribution of community resources. In conditions of social justice, people are not to be discriminated against their welfare and well being based on the gender, sexuality, religion, race, disability, social class, or other characteristic of background or group membership.
"Social justice is what faces you in the morning. It is awakening in a house with adequate water supply, cooking facilities and sanitation. It is the ability to nourish your children and send them to school where their education not only equips them for employment but reinforces their knowledge and understanding of their cultural inheritance. It is the prospect of genuine employment and good health: a life of choices and opportunity, free from discrimination" (Dodson, 1993).
What is social justice? Social justice is the distribution of human rights and equality in a community. As Derrick A. Bell states, “We live in a system that espouses merit, equality, and a level playing field, but exalts those with wealth, power, and celebrity, however gained,” (Ethical Ambition: Living a Life of Meaning and Worth). Atticus Finch shows that in a society where color determines a person’s power, equality is really what matters. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character of Atticus to reveal her ideas about social justice.
Social justice is the even and fair distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. This means that everyone should have equal opportunities no matter their race, background or upbringing.
A general definition of social justice is hard to arrive at and even harder to implement. In essence, social justice is concerned with equal justice, not just in the courts, but in all aspects of society. This “concept demands that people have equal rights and opportunities; everyone, from the poorest person on the margins of society to the wealthiest deserves an even playing field” (http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-social-justice.htm). Sturman (1997) notes that theorising about social justice is reflected in recent debates about equity and equality, adding ‘the concept of “social justice” ... is not clearly defined (in fact, the term is often used as a synonym for “equal” opportunities or “equity”)’ (p.1). Thus, the notion of equity often replaces politically motivated conceptions of equality, and social justice reframed in this way is deemed as necessary for democratic life (Theophanous, 1994). This element of social justice involves recognition that there will always be some people in society who will need a lot of support and assistance, no matter how much education, training, encouragement or coercion is provided. There are people who have severe difficulties in understanding or communicating or organising their daily lives. This includes many people with a mental illness, other disabilities, literacy problems and other learning difficulties
According to the San Diego Foundation, "social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities" (2016). When I first saw this term, I was thinking of it in a different context. After reading this specific definition, it holds more weight. I think that social justice is very important, especially in the current political climate. Social justice, as a concept, is something that society thinks they are upholding. However, there are many instances where people are not given equal opportunities or access to resources. Social justice isn't limited to race or gender. There are so many different aspects of ourselves that people can discriminate individual about. These include, but are not limited
What does the phrase ‘social justice’ mean? Is it fairness in terms of social life? Equity in the way people are treated within a community? Or even simply, justice for those who are social? Oxford Dictionary describes social justice as “ justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society,” (Social Justice). Economically, this can mean that monetary resources are evenly distributed throughout the general public. The equal opportunity aspect of social justice can mean that everyone received a fair chance to participate in something. Finally, social justice looks to bring the same privileges to everyone, regardless of background, race, class, gender, or anything else that can be discriminatory. One issue of social justice that I’d like to focus on would be the treatment of those who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). More specifically, focusing on the assistance currently being given to soldiers who suffer from TBI after they return from war. In order to bring about better social justice for soldiers who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), current programs helping the injured to transition back to civilian life need to be adapted to better support troops.
Social justice refers to the equitable distribution of wealth, income, and opportunities within a society. This is not to say that social justice is a crusade for equality of outcomes where each person has the same house, car, money in the bank, etc., but that each individual should have an equal opportunity to the means to achieve upward mobility in a society. Furthermore, social justice is concerned with correcting longstanding inequalities that curb opportunities for certain segments of society. For instance, poverty and systematic discrimination are issues that have become embedded in society and that often times are over looked because they are so "normal" that we don't fully realize the gap in opportunities these groups
According to Newman & Yeates (2008) Social Justice is a device that can be called upon to challenge particular forms of inequality or unfairness and can mobilise people in order to bring about change. It is a social construction and, because therefore it is something that is learned, it is open to contestation and change. Social Justice is concerned with the powers that define what is
Oftentimes, the definition of social justice can be misinterpreted or misunderstood. The true definition of social justice is often structured by governmental implications but is the fair and proper administration of laws to each individual conforming to the natural law. Equality is supposed to be equally distributed amongst individuals nationally, but can sometimes be taken advantage of and be taken away from people who deserve it the most. Generally, those who view social justices as a right, also value people above profits.
Social justice is equal rights that no one seems to go against or argue for. It is also the view of everyone equal rights in the economy, politics, and opportunities. Social justice brings a crowd together and working together to fight for what is best for everyone. It is important that we have social justice because we should all have equal opportunities. Let’s take education, for example. Imagine there are two schools. One school earns lots of funding while the other doesn’t earn any money and the school is falling apart. The student that goes to school 2 will less likely have a future of the poor education. While the student who goes to school 1 will have a more likely chance to have an education by the education they had. That’s why social
Social justice helps us in creating human interactions in society and social institutions. These institutions can provide us with what is good for the person and for our associations with others. This happens so long as our institutions are
Social Justice is fairness within a society. Fairness with in a society or community is making sure everything is equal within that given society or community. Distribution of wealth is really important. The top 10% of the community can’t have more money than the bottom 90% combined. There has to be fairness in opportunity that is provided within the community. If one given population is allowed to partake in something or are given the opportunity to better their lives than all the other given populations need to have that same fair opportunity as well. The same goes for privilege. It’s not fair when there are special rights and advantages given out that will help a particular group but disadvantage another. Making sure there are equal social rights
Social sciences and social justice are both based on the structure of rights. Our rights were designed to create equality for all. However, there are always outliers in our justice system and these outliers can be seen by all. My background and demographic are aggressively average growing up in a small, rural community with little diversity which has affected my views about justice. The class Social Problems and Social Injustice has aggressively opened my eyes to new statistics about society and has made some of my intuitions validated and destroyed some of my prior views. My new understanding of social justice is that is was created for all by excluding some. Justice is the structure of our institutions and society.