Social Justice

For my individual exploration, I read an article entitled “Social Justice, Education and Schooling: Some Philosophical Issues” by John A. Clark. This article explored to concept of “social justice” and what the implementation of social justice within schools would possibly look like.

One aspect of the article addressed how differences do not equal social inequality. Clark argues that some differences, such as hair color, are not indicators of inequality, but that other differences that affect the lives of people on a more expansive scale are more indicative of social inequality. “Where differences and inequalities in society have a significant, serious and negative impact on the good of those constitutive of such a society, such that their material, psychological and interpersonal welfare are placed at a disadvantage, then social justice comes into contention as a guiding principle” (276). I thought that defining where social inequality begins was a good way of starting to determine the role social justice should play in classrooms because doing so does not limit people to thinking in terms of “equality of opportunity, equality of treatment, [and] equality of outcome” (279), which, as Clark points out, are all fraught with complications and problems. In other words, saying that people should be equal is wonderful and all, but rather idealistic, whereas the realistic implementation of equality is much more difficult because of differences of opinion of what equality means (Should all people be treated the same regardless of individual factors? Should they all arrive at the same position in life?), the manner in which equality should be enforced (redistribution of educational resources, forced busing, etc.), and any other factors that affect social justice within classrooms.

Clark goes on to examine how social inequalities are largely a product of many factors outside of the field of education (such as socioeconomic class), and ultimately concludes that, in order to bring more social justice to the realm of education, citizens needs to pursue social justice “more widely across the full spectrum of economic and social policy”(286). Overall, I found Clark’s perspective interesting in that he addresses the fact that “social justice” is a broader concept than can be promoted solely within classrooms and expected to carry out into society. Indeed, it is the other way around; increased social justice should be sought in all aspects of society, and that will ultimately lead to a greater degree of it entering classrooms.  

Work Cited

Clark, John A. "Social Justice, Education and Schooling: Some Philosophical Issues." British Journal of Educational Studies. 54.3 (2006): 272-287. Web. 14 Oct. 2013.