Convenor

Ruth Boyask
ruth.boyask@plymouth.ac.uk

This SIG maps changes in educational policies at all levels and their effects in terms of promoting or inhibiting social justice. We are committed to developing theoretical understandings of the concept of social justice and the interaction of particular axes of discrimination in education. Particular attention is given to discourses and material effects of social class, gender, citizenship and human rights, and the ways in which these interrelate. In addition we help to develop an understanding of the opportunities and spaces that social actors in education have to promote inclusion and social justice (as well as the limits and constraints they face), and the ways in which action can be taken. We contribute to the evaluation of research methodologies for investigating social justice, and provide an arena for debate, discussion and dissemination for researchers whose work addresses social justice issues.

The SIG is concerned with the complex and multi-faceted relationship between social justice and education at international, national and local levels. Essentially, it aims to analyse and work against systems of social injustice in education, exploring with Harvey (1993), ‘which theory of social justice is the most socially just?’ And what are the conceptions of social justice which are useful to apply to a study of education? We also consider the processes by which academic critique can or should influence political agendas locally, nationally and globally.

Past activities have included:

• British Journal of Educational Studies Special Issue on ‘Education and Social Justice: new and Continuing Themes’.
• A Seminar series on ‘New Labour’s Education Policy and Social Justice’.
• Six seminars on ‘Education and Social Justice’ which aimed to raise social justice issues in relation to various areas of education.

We hope to arrange a conference in June 2008 with a theme of contemporary feminist perspectives on social justice in education.