Answering Case Study Questions

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Answering Case Study Questions

Torres and Barber state, “Giving voice to these stakeholders is the first step in achieving social justice in education (p.12).” In what ways do they define the term “social justice”? What does “social justice” mean in education?

Social justice in education refers to a situation where every student has an equal opportunity to learn through access to resources. Torres and Barber believe that access to education should be a leveled ground where every student can learn regardless of their background. In their definition of social justice in education, Torres and Barber indicate that the confines of race, socioeconomic status, and one’s influence should not give or deny an equal learning opportunity. As such, every student should be treated the same, given the same resources, and allowed to participate in education at the same level as others. Specifically, Torres and Barber noted “providing equal access to high-quality education and promoting human dignity by respecting and valuing individual differences (12). Therefore, the quality of education that students should receive should not be limited or based on who they are or the background of their families.

Social justice in education is also viewed as ensuring every student feels the same. The value that one learner is perceived to gain and contribute to education should be cut across to all students without the limits brought about by systemic barriers. To reaffirm social justice's view and meaning in education, Torres and Barber noted that social justice has three primary constructs. First, distributive justice ensures that every person in the community has the same access to community resources, which also applies to education, where all students have an equal chance to learn. The second contrast is recognitional justice, which gives respect to students, recognizing their role in education equally. Finally, associational justice gives students and their parents the voice to participate in education (Torres and Barber, 2017, p. 12-13).

They also state, “The potential for these stories...