BC Social Justice 12 Course Outline

By Louise Gonsalvez

Social Justice 12 Course Rationale

Social Justice 12 promotes the pursuit of social justice and encourages students to
develop the commitment and ability to work toward a more just society.

Famous Social Justice Quotations

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.” Margaret Mead

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection

of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life . . .” Nelson Mandela

One Definition of Social Justice

“The full participation and inclusion of all people in society, together with the
promotionand protection of their legal, civil, and human rights. The aim of social justice
—to achieve a just and equitable society where all share in the prosperity of that society
—is pursued by individuals and groups through collaborative social action.”
(BC Ministry of Education: SJ 12 - Glossary)

Human Rights Law in British Columbia

In BC, human rights are primarily defined by the Canadian

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

SJ 12 Course in British Columbia

BC Ministry of Education Social Justice 12 Integrated Resource Package

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/social_justice12/sj12irp2008.pdf

Goals of Social Justice 12

Recognize and understand the causes of injustice

Apply critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills to social justice issues
Understand how to act in a socially just manner
Become responsible agents of change

Meeting Prescribed Learning Outcomes

There are a number of exciting, yet controversial topics, in this course. The Alternative
Delivery policy does not apply to Social Justice 12. www.bced.gov.bc.ca/policy/

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 SJ12 Course Participation: Self-Reflection, Responding Justly and Taking Action

Sample Self-Reflective Questions:

−How do my personal experiences and circumstances (e.g., age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, ethnicity, family, socioeconomic status) affect my perceptions?
−How do I challenge the status quo?
−What are my assumptions about how our society functions/ should function? (e.g.,
competitive, collective)−What roles do culture and language play in my perceptions,
understandings, values, and beliefs?
−Am I privileged or entitled? In what ways?
−Am I oppressed or marginalized? In what ways?
−How do I perpetuate the status quo?
−How do I respond when someone disagrees with me?
How do I treat others with beliefs and values different from my own?
−What am I willing to do to promote social justice ideals?
−How willing am I to take personal risks in sharing my ideas

Just Behaviours:

-analyse how belief systems have been used to justify local and global prejudices and
biases
-advocate for social justice
-give examples of how belief systems can affect the ways in which individuals and
groups relate
-demonstrate skills of respectful collaboration and co-operation address conflict in
constructive and fair ways
-respect and promote respect for the contributions of others
-use appropriate, respectful, and inclusive language in discourse about
social justice issues

Taking Action:

-implement an appropriate plan for action on a selected local, provincial, national, or

international social justice issue

Social Justice 12 is a participatory course that requires self-

analysis, social analysis, respect for diversity, a willingness to
take action and a willingness to respectfully discuss
controversial issues.

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 Curriculum Organizers for Social Justice 12

I. Defining Social Justice

Sample Terminology: ageism, colonialism, consumerism, cultural imperialism, dignity,

discrimination, diversity, economic imperialism, empowerment, equality, equity, ethics,
extremism, feminism, fundamentalism, genocide, globalization, hate crime, hegemony,
heterosexism, homophobia, human rights, inclusion, individual responsibility,
marginalization, misogyny, oppression, peace, power, prejudice, privilege, racism,
sexism, speciesism, systemic, transformational leadership

II. Recognizing and Analysing Social Injustice

-analyse marginalized and oppressed groups: historical and contemporary, Canadian,

local and global and implications of globalization
-causes of social injustice (e.g., fear, greed, unequal distribution of resources, insecurity,
maintaining the power dynamic status quo, conformity, conflicting values)
-consequences of social injustice (e.g., inequity, prejudice, discrimination, poverty, war,
patriarchy, incarceration rates, alienation, environmental degradation)
-case studies of social injustice in Canada role of legislation, public policy
-demonstrate the ability to understand the motives, intentions, hopes, and fears of people
in other situations

III. Moving toward a Socially Just World

- assess lifelong opportunities related to social justice

-identify realistic options for participation (e.g., launching an informational or advocacy
campaign, volunteering with existing service groups, organizing a letter-writing
campaign, consulting elected officials, making presentations to community groups,
organizing workshops or forums, creating and presenting a drama, creating a public
service announcement video, launching a web site, creating a podcast)
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(Curriculum Organizer Information cited from the BC SJ12 IRP)

Sample Unit Topics for Social Justice 12

Unit 1: Introduction to Social Justice

Unit 2: Social Justice Beliefs and Values
Unit 3: Research Skills
Unit 4: Systemic Analysis and the Dynamics of Poverty
Unit 5: Aboriginal Peoples and the Law
Unit 6: Examining LGBTQ Issues

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 Unit 7: Women and Social Justice
Unit 8: Genocide
Unit 9: Globalization
Unit 10: Social Justice Action Plan

Social Justice 12 Course Evaluations

Self Reflection (Journal, Blog and Responses) 10%

Definitions and Defining Social Justice 20%
Analyzing and Recognizing Social Injustice 35%
Confronting Social Injustices 35%

Social Justice 12 Assessment Tools

Rubrics for various BC SJ12 Activities

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/program_delivery/sj12_teacherguide/sj12_unitone.pdf

Social Justice Displays/Booths

http://www.cesnorthwest.org/servicelearningexchange/wp-
content/filmfest/booth_rubric.pdf?phpMyAdmin=9c75954fff43e41b8588c719a439c719

Social Justice Sample Rubric for Blogs and Videos

http://talcnewvision.org/SocialJusticeCurriculum/Assessment?
action=download&upname=videoassess.doc

BC Ministry Recommended Resources for Social Justice 12

Selected Websites: BC Ministry of Education

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/program_delivery/sj12_teacherguide/sj12_websites.pdf

Recommended Resources: BC Ministry of Education

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp_resources/lr/resource/2008sj12annot.pdf

Learning Resources by Topic

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp_resources/lr/resource/2008sj12_lr.pdf

BCTF Social Justice Calendar

http://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Social_Justice/SJCalendar.pdf
You may participate in some nationally and internationally recognized social justice days.

Free Social Justice Posters with Quotes

http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/justice-quotes.htm

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