ABSTRACT

Teaching for Social Justice? Voices from the Front Lines examines the process of four K-12 educators and a university-based researcher discussing, studying, and acting on the potential power of social justice. Through frequent, lively, and complex meetings, these educators examine their varying educational philosophies, practices, and teaching sites. Using experimental writing methods and qualitative methodology, North bridges the great divide between teacher and academic discourse. She analyzes the complex, interconnected competencies pursued in the name of social justice, including functional, critical, relational, democratic, and visionary literacies. In doing so, she reveals the power of cross-institutional, democratic inquiry on social issues in education.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

part |34 pages

Functional Literacy

chapter |18 pages

Functional Literacy in Context

A Portrait of Margaret

part |33 pages

Critical Literacy

chapter |17 pages

Critical Literacy in Context

A Portrait of Joe

part |33 pages

Relational Literacy

chapter |18 pages

Relational Literacy in Context

A Portrait of Julia

chapter |14 pages

More than “Fluffy Talk”

The Significance of Relational Literacy

part |37 pages

Democratic Literacy

chapter |18 pages

Democratic Literacy in Context

A Portrait of Paul

part |18 pages

Visionary Literacy

chapter |7 pages

Do Maggots Have Protein?

A Call for Visionary Literacy 1

chapter |10 pages

Conclusion

The Art of Cultivating Hope