Summer Institute countdown: 12 weeks
Controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law modified after court ruling.
The word justice has global roots, from the Latin origin of justus, via the Middle English, Anglo-French term, juste. The morpheme jus has two meanings: law, and right. However, it is also similar to a Sanskrit word yos, meaning welfare. In the scope of justice in education, educators often have to be mindful of all three–especially here in Florida–and here at the SoFlo Writing Project, we seek to support teachers interested in justice-oriented classrooms, with a focus on equity for all, which in turn supports students’ social and emotional welfare.
In the past month, one of the most controversial education laws in recent years has been modified thanks to a two-year lawsuit from plaintiffs including Miami-Dade parents (The Sun Sentinel). The legislation, titled Parental Rights in Education, had banned the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3 in 2022, and later adoptions extended it firstly to K-8, then, in 2023, to include all K-12 grades. Under the new changes in the decision by the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, students now cannot be taught that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality, and they can write about sexual orientation and gender identity in class participation and schoolwork.
However, the law itself remains in place, with the assertive narrative title that confirms the State’s position that they see parents only as heteronormative, and therefore any other expression as “other.” This is the climate that South Florida educators are teaching in, and while this appeal outcome is a win for equity, for social justice, for human rights, and for students, legislation like this has already shifted the landscape with the rising number of anti-LGBTQ laws and policies reflected in increasing reports of LGBTQ+ bullying in middle and high schools across the country (The 74 Million; The Trevor Project).
Our Invitational Summer Institute is a safe space for educators to work collaboratively and share classroom experiences that will help to build a collection of classroom activities combating these injustices, and that will establish a community of like-minded peers. Fellows will have open access to themed readings to explore the practice of justice in our classrooms and schools and they will develop their own voice through professional writing coaching. All fellows will also create high-quality, peer-reviewed lesson plans as the foundational cohort, and will continue to have lifetime access to all future lesson plans from future fellows to ensure continued provision. By giving teachers the tools they need for their own development of voice and identity, for self-advocacy, we aim to help support student and educator development and identity, leading to the overarching aim of justice–in law and in education–for all. If we want our students to change the world, it has to start with us.
Merriam Webster, Just: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just#h1
The Sun Sentinel, Florida settles lawsuit over controversial parental rights law: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/03/11/florida-settles-lawsuit-over-controversial-parental-rights-law-state-will-clarify-laws-reach/
The 74 million, Scared of School: https://www.the74million.org/article/scared-of-school-even-in-states-with-protective-laws-lgbtq-students-are-reporting-attacks-from-other-kids-and-teachers/
The Trevor Project, 2023 National Survey: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/assets/static/05_TREVOR05_2023survey.pdf