Redefining Schooling, Redefining Society (Class Assignment no. 7)

This week's reading got into what is, for me, the most valuable and crucial element of Multicultural Eduction; and that is it's value as a tool for expanding Social Justice.

Specifically, the Sleeter and Grant reading (Chapter Six), discusses this beautifully in detailing the theoretical merit in "Education that is Multicultural and Social Reconstructionist." The theory herein is primarily concerned with "[eliminating the] oppression of one group of people by another" and "deals more directly... with oppression and social structural inequality" (pg. 188). The approach uses conflict theory to analyze why prejudices and inequalities exist and then seeks to stop the trend in the classroom.

The material this week was my favorite as we examined resistance theory, specifically anti-Black racist structures (of the more covert nature) in education. In adopting the Womanist framework to analyze systemic disadvantaging and strategize resistance, Anderson and Kharem highlight the kind of thought process that is needed to end discrimination at any level once and for all (without resorting to my chosen violent, insurrectionist, anarchist fantasies). This level of thinking is effective because it tackles the hegemony at work that Asa Hilliard names (and not simply it's nominally 'racist' manifestations) to eliminate the perpetuation of inequalities in classrooms. Recognizing these patterns of continued subjugation (stage 3 in Collins' Conflict Theory model) give us the tools to effect change.

So, what do I make of this all? For one thing, I feel that the readings say it all this week. I agree that intersectional models, like the womanist perspective of resistance theory, have a lot to offer in terms of stripping down hegemonic sturctures beyond their manifestations as any particular "ism." As a person who's very familiar with racism/negrophobia, nativism and homophobia/heterosexism, I feel that one can never be too critical and too sensitive to the structures in place.

I think that the more people who adopt this extra-critical mindset, the more effective we can be at eroding the reproduction of inequality.