The Great EdTech Debate: Episode 7 – Educators have a responsibility to use tech and social media to promote social justice.

It is hard to not be invested in this topic, especially with all of the news stories taking place around the world. Originally for me, I was actually leaning towards the disagreement side of this statement. I think that teachers can get into a lot of trouble when it comes to posting about their own person views on social media. I have a friend who has family members apart of the Co-op Refinery / Unifor strike, and I have seen the backlash that he receives, in addition to the countless arguments of how is enforcing his social views on onto his students.

My opinion changed when reading the annotated readings for this debate. Specifically, it was the TEDTalk video with Sydney Chafee. There was one line in particular that swayed my view. This was when Chafee said “teachers don’t just teach subjects, we teach people.” Brilliant! Although I teach the subjects of math and science in my school, I am also teaching students all types of other skills they will need for their future.

PreVote

PreVote: Agree 50%, Disagree 50%

Agree

Jacquie and Mike did a great job arguing how it is the responsibility of teachers to use technology and social media to promote social justice. They shared an article by author Sonia Nieto that discusses how social justice in education includes four components:

1. Challenges, confronts, and disrupts misconceptions, untruths and stereotypes.
2. Provides students with resources needed to their full potential.
3. Draws on all students talents and strengths.
4. Promotes critical thinking and supports agency for social change.

Another point that is brought up is that promoting social justice allows students to become problems solvers, critical thinkers, collaborators, build perseverance, learn historical context, and allows for learning outside the school walls. I would also have to say that the final clip in their video has a powerful message.

Jacquie and Mike Debate Introduction Video

Disagree

To counter, Brad and Michala did an excellent job of explaining why it is not the teachers job to use social media to promote social justice. The duo created a video that allowed “people” to share their opinions on the matter.

Teachers should be neutral: This is an important, yet difficult point to get across. It is important to show students that we are all entitled to our opinion, but we also need to make sure that we are not pushing our opinions onto our students. Yet, there are instances where students come in, start an argument over a topic, and you can tell that the student is just repeating what they have heard from their parents. For one instance, I have a student that struggles to learn anything to do with government, because his parents have such a strong view against Justin Trudeau. As a result, whenever we try to teach this student anything about the Liberal party, the only thing we end up hearing from this students is negative comments. It is still important for us as educators to teach students to form their own opinions on subjects, and to not be swayed by others.

Not creating tiny foot soldiers: I think that Brad summed this point up perfectly when he shared his experience about the schools recycling program. What seemed to be something positive, and created by the students of the school was quickly turned around by someone claiming that the was the intention of the classroom teacher trying to orchestrate their own personal agenda. I think that the biggest point that I got out of this story was the support that Brad had from his administrator. It is important to share news with administration about what you are planning on doing in the school so that they are able to field questions regarding issues.

Brad and Michala Debate Introduction Video

Results

PostVote: Agree 63%, Disagree 37%

Conclusion

As I reflect back on this debate, I agree that social justice is a topic that we need to educate students about. The problem that I am still facing is that the word of the original statement is actually debating two things. First, it is debating that we should be using technology to promote social justice. For this topic, I absolutely agree. The more controversial section is that social media should be used to promote social justice. I just think that there are alternative ways to show students about social justice, rather than giving students social media accounts and allowing them to respond online.

I agree that it is important to show students that it is okay to have alternative views regarding controversial topics. I think it is even more important to explain why. An example is an experience I was put in when I was brand new to my current school. I teach in a small conservative town, so naturally there is a lot of judgement towards the LGBT community. I was shocked my first week of teaching when I kept hearing students use the term gay, fag, etc. What I explained to students is that I have family members that are apart of the LGBT community, and I personal felt attacked whenever students used these terms. I explained that I understood they were open to their own interpretations, and beliefs. However, I also said that I personally would feel better if they didn’t use these terms at school. Four years later, I rarely hear any of those terms. I feel as though this is a good way to share with students about the LGBT community, rather than looking at social media to share opinions.

Finally, I would like to thank all of those apart of the class who shared their personal stories regarding the topic of social justice. It is powerful to learn from others, and to listen to alternative ways people live.