DEI 563 - Equity in Schools and Society

Course unit(s): 0.5
In the United States, there is a long-held belief in the importance of education in the maintenance of a just society. But what happens when schools do not serve students equitably? The focus of this course is just that–to examine the ways in which inequitable and unjust educational systems reproduce social inequality and reinforce injustices in the broader society. In examining this topic, the course materials are drawn from a broad range of interdisciplinary research in education, including philosophy of education, educational policy studies, educational psychology, adult education and educational administration and leadership, critical race theory, and gender studies, among others to examine the consequences of inequitable schooling. Specific topics will vary, but may include the connections between school and work; school discipline and the school to prison pipeline; adult literacy and community-based adult education; race, class, and gender disparities in schools and their social consequences; and schools, healthcare, and mental health services. Upon successful completion of the course, students will:
● Identify inequities in educational systems and generate equity-oriented solutions
● Explain the complex relationships between inequities in schools and injustices in society
● Apply knowledge and theory from educational research to resolve community, workplace, or other institutional issues related to education and equity