This idea of responsibility is the guiding force in my promotion of social justice. I do not believe I should stand up for social justice because I simply agree that inequality and discrimination exist, but because I believe that I have the responsibility to do so. This quarter, I was exposed to three influential texts, but one, Iris Young’s Responsibility for Justice, resonated with me because it brought up the topic of moral and political responsibility: “One has the responsibility always now, in relation to current events and in relation to their future consequences” (2011). We are responsible. I am responsible. Thus, I feel accountable and obligated to not only promote social justice in my personal life, but through my professional practice as a school psychologist.
My role as a school psychologist is to ensure that all students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally in a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment. I am also responsible for advocating for social justice within students, families, teachers, and the school community. To promote social justice within the school setting, I will root my actions within the concepts of shared responsibility and collective action. As Young states, “My responsibility is essentially shared with others because the harms are produced by many of us acting together within accepted institutions and practices…” (2011). Therefore, it is not only my responsibility, but also our shared responsibility to bring about change. My work will begin by creating and maintaining a school environment that promotes social justice and equity. To create such an environment, I will work with the principal to implement a school-wide curriculum that promotes accountability, diversity, and supports social-emotional and mental health. I will push for the adoption of transformative justice in the place of suspension and expulsion, as it encourages healing “by way of ‘apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation’ (Capeheart & Milovanovic, 2007). It also focuses on change: “the transformation of persons, perspectives, and community” (Capeheart & Milovanovic, 2007). I will spread awareness among teachers and staff around issues of discrimination and injustice and educate them on ways to advocate for their students. By building a collective action, together we will begin to combat structural injustices that exist within our hallways. I believe, however that this work must extend past the school walls and so I will also hold information nights for parents and community members. I will push school administration to adopt policies that end discrimination. Together with other educational professionals we will also push for district and statewide policies and change. Overall, our work will be about not only promoting equality and supporting diversity, but questioning structural norms and inequalities and moving towards a new future.
As an advocate for social justice, I will face both systemic and personal barriers. One such systemic barrier may be that school districts and school administration will not understand nor see the need for such non-academic curriculums to be implemented or for such professional development sessions for teachers. I may also face resistance from the district as well as from the principal and teachers because this work deviates from preparing students for state testing. Teachers and the principal may also not feel responsible nor see it as their job to challenge deep-rooted societal injustices. Although these obstacles may arise in my work, I must continue to push because I am in a place of professional power and thus have the ability to change the system. I must continue to remind myself that my job is not to simply to assess students for special education; I am also a social justice advocate. Spreading awareness and educating others will take time and effort, but it is this collective action that will, in the end, bring about the most change.
I will also face personal obstacles such as feeling that I do not have enough time. But I must remind myself that it is my responsibility – our responsibility to right such wrongs as citizens of our society. Another personal barrier that I believe will arise is the question of whether my actions will really make a difference – can such structural injustices issues really be changed? Young states in Chapter 4 of her text, “A Social Connection Model,” that we all contribute to the processes that produce these structural injustices and having responsibility does not mean I am at fault, but rather that my responsibility is due to my social role and position in society: “individuals bear responsibility for structural injustice because they contribute by their actions to the processes that produce unjust outcomes” (2011). There is no clear answer or assurance that these structural injustices can be resolved or changed, but rather I must come to an understanding and acceptance that it is my responsibility to try and begin to create a new future.
Coming to understand social justice more in depth this quarter, I acknowledge that promoting social justice within my professional practice will be challenging. I will face many barriers and will feel that my work is not making a difference. I also fear becoming jaded and losing hope in the possibility of change. Therefore, I must remain unyielding in my push for change. I must be dedicated to the promotion of social change and believe in the power of collective action. But most importantly, I must continue to see this fight as my responsibility.
References
Capeheart, L. & Milovanovic, D. (2007). Social justice: Theories, issues, and movements. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Young, I. M. (2011). Responsibility for justice. New York: Oxford University Press.