1. Missouri Art Education Association Conference
April, 2016
A Dialogue on Art & Social Justice: The Power of Creative Representation
Navarro 2016
Virginia Navarro, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Friday, April 8, 4-5:30 PM, Ambassadeur I

2. Image on Chrome google search March 20, 2016
Navarro 2016
Image on Chrome google search March 20, 2016

3. Social Justice: Multiple meanings?
In groups of 3-4 share your understandings around the connotations around this concept.
Try to agree on a few descriptive phrases that capture some shared meanings
Discuss WHY this concept sometimes is controversial
Report a few ideas generated with larger group
Navarro 2016

4. Deepening Social Justice Teaching
by Christine E. Sleeter, California State Univ.-Monterey Bay
Situate families and communities within an analysis of structural inequities.
Develop relationships of reciprocity with students, families, and communities.
Teach to high academic expectations by building on students’ culture, language, experience, and identity
Create and teach an inclusive curriculum that integrates marginalized perspectives and explicitly addresses issues of inequity and power
Navarro 2016

5. Culturally Responsive Teaching
The ‘Teaching Diverse Learners Lab’ at Brown University identifies seven main characteristics of culturally responsive teaching:
1. Positive perspectives on parents and families
2. Communication of high expectations
3. Learning within the context of culture
4. Student-centered instruction
5. Culturally mediated instruction
6. Reshaping the curriculum
7. Teacher as facilitator
Navarro 2016

6. RESOURCES: Teaching Tolerance: SPLC
Essential Questions: 
How do photographs convey meaning? How do viewers contribute to constructing that meaning?
How are photographs similar to and different from other kinds of communication?
What role can photographs play in revealing injustice? What role can they play in encouraging people to take action against injustice?
How do photographs show activism and activists?
Art and Racial Justice: What is in a Self-Portrait?  (open)
(open)
Navarro 2016

7. RESOURCES: Links to information
Art Education for Social Justice
Rethinking Schools – materials, books, curricula,
Elementary Ideas for Art
Vision Series: Chawky Frenn - "Art and Social Justice"
Ted Talks: Art is a weapon for social change: Dr. Tammy L. Brown at TEDxXavierUniversity,
Making Spaces K-3,
Navarro 2016

8. RESOURCES: General Sites
The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
National Education Association
Teaching diverse learners
PBS –over 3300 entries for social justice
CREDE-Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence (Early Childhood Standards)
Navarro 2016

9. Antonio Berni’s “The Demonstration” Malba Museum, Buenas Aires, AR
Navarro 2016

10. Analyzing images for meta-meanings
Focus on how old she looks, what she’s wearing, what she’s holding, what she’s doing and what her expression is like. With your partner, answer these questions to help you focus on the tone, or feeling, of the photo.
Portraying competence and/or beauty-
Navarro 2016

11. Using ART as entry point to SJ?
Discuss some activities for your age group might offer generative discussion and ideas for creative representation of issues of social justice.
Be specific – Pictures? Materials? Product?
What has worked for you?
Share your ideas with group.
(10 minutes)
Navarro 2016

12. As teachers...
We must intentionally include images, dialogue, and activities that honor multiple cultural traditions.
We must make the study of language and cultural diversity part of the curriculum regardless of school demographics.
We must commit to working to improve the opportunities for all students THROUGH everyday choices in the classroom.
We must educate ourselves and develop a critical stance around assumed cultural truths – from First Nations peoples treatment and Thanksgiving projects to Columbus’ role in exploration of Americas.
We must offer multiple possible interpretations of visual art that challenges the status quo.
We must find and nurture both critical thinking and an aesthetic of the good and beautiful in dialogue with our students.
Navarro 2016

13. Today’s challenges?
Persistent institutionalized racism, profiling and stereotyping, unequal school discipline, school to prison pipeline,
Immigrants and immigration issues
Muslim students / scarves /hate crimes
LGBTQ students / harassment /suicides
IN GROUPS OF 3-4 SHARE IDEAS ON A TOPIC ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO AS AN ART TEACHER NOW TO EQUALIZE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY AND ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL STUDENTS? Share out. (15 minutes)
Navarro 2016