Leading Socially Just Schools: The Role of Professional Learning and Growth

Equity and social justice have become central to the work of schools, and teachers and leaders are at the forefront of building socially just schools. Professional learning is critical to enable them to develop the understandings, skills, and confidence to grapple with complex issues. This book brings together contributions from different systems that explore how professional learning can support efforts to bring about socially just schools.

Format: Hardback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Equity and social justice have emerged as pivotal themes in the realm of education, with teachers and leaders assuming a crucial role in fostering socially just schools. However, the complexities and contentious nature of these issues demand a comprehensive understanding and dedicated professional development. This book serves as a valuable resource, compiling a diverse range of contributions from various educational systems. The contributors to this volume explore innovative approaches to professional learning, aimed at supporting endeavors to establish socially just schools. They adopt a multifaceted perspective, examining professional development in the context of a broad concept of social justice and addressing the disparities between advantaged and disadvantaged learners. Additionally, some chapters delve into specific issues or areas of practice, fostering awareness, deepening knowledge, and enhancing skills. Notably, all the chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue in the esteemed journal "Professional Development in Education."

Introduction:
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of equity and social justice in education. Schools have become increasingly committed to creating environments that promote fairness, equality, and social cohesion for all students. Teachers and leaders play a vital role in shaping these environments, as they are responsible for implementing policies, programs, and practices that support these goals.

Equity and Social Justice in Education:
Equity in education refers to the fair and equal access to educational opportunities and resources for all students, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics. Social justice in education goes beyond equity and aims to address the systemic inequalities and biases that exist in society and impact students' educational outcomes.

Challenges:
Issues related to equity and social justice in education are complex and deeply contested. Teachers and school leaders face numerous challenges in their efforts to create socially just schools. These challenges include:

• Limited resources: Schools in low-income communities often face resource constraints, which can limit their ability to provide high-quality education and support services.
  
• Bias and discrimination: Students from marginalized communities may face discrimination and bias in the classroom, which can impact their academic performance and sense of belonging.
  
• Language barriers: Students who speak languages other than the dominant language in the school may face language barriers that can hinder their learning and academic success.
  
• Social and emotional challenges: Students who experience social and emotional challenges, such as poverty, trauma, or abuse, may need additional support and resources to succeed in school.
  

Professional Learning:
Professional learning is critical to enable teachers and school leaders to develop the understandings, skills, and confidence to grapple with these challenging issues. Professional learning can take many forms, including workshops, conferences, online courses, and peer-to-peer learning.

Contributions of This Book:
This book brings together a range of contributions from different systems, exploring ways in which professional learning can support efforts to bring about socially just schools. The contributors to this book adopt a variety of perspectives, with some looking at professional learning around a broad concept of social justice and the task of the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged learners. Other contributors explore the question of professional learning in relation to a specific issue or area of practice to raise awareness and deepen knowledge and skills.

Conclusion:
Equity and social justice have become central to the work of schools, and teachers and leaders are at the forefront of building socially just schools. However, the complexities and contentious nature of these issues demand a comprehensive understanding and dedicated professional development. This book serves as a valuable resource, compiling a diverse range of contributions from various educational systems. By exploring innovative approaches to professional learning, teachers and school leaders can develop the skills and confidence needed to create environments that promote equity, social justice, and student success.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032413495