Presentation by : Part 1- AQ Religious Education Durham Catholic Teachers

1. Social Justice Presentation by: Part 1- AQ Religious Education Durham Catholic Teachers

2. OpeningPrayer Isaiah 58:6-12 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke,  to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?   Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.   Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, "Here I am."   If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. ...

3. Introduction "The opposite of poverty is not wealth – it is justice,” Brazil's leading liberation theologian, Leonardo Boff Social Justice: moving towards a society where all hungry are fed, all sick are cared for, the environment is treasured, and we treat each other with love and compassion. Not an easy goal, for sure, but certainly one worth giving our lives for! Social Justice: Being entitled to the same rights and services as all other citizens. Call to Action: We are not called to action on social justice matters to make us feel better, but rather because we know God wants justice of His people and in turn this is why we must strive for it! “Miniature World” http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=i4639vev1Rw&NR=1

4. SocialJustice Issues: Child Labor Child Soldiers Death Penalty Debt Discrimination Economic Justice Environment Food and Hunger Issues Genocide Global Climate Change Global Poverty Globalization Government Spending HIV-Aids Health care Human Rights Immigration Inequality Terrorism Trade Poverty Water Worker Justice Campaigns “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

5. How children are affected around the world • The estimated number of childhood deaths in 2010 was 7.6 million.  • Poor nutrition plays a role in at least half of the 7.6 million child deaths each year.  • In developing countries, almost one out of every 15 children will die before they reach the age of five • The main cause of child hunger is poverty. • Poverty causes other aspects of children's poor health, not only their hunger, increasing the impact of both hunger and other types of poor health.. 

6. Activity: Take a walk around the world • Take 2-3 minutes in total to walk around the classroom and visit each continent to read some poverty facts. • Let’s discuss and share our thoughts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

7. What is a Community? What is a Community? • A group of people who come together for a common purpose.  Why help communities to become stronger? • The world will be a better place; poverty will be reduced; working towards this is a meaningful endeavor. By working together on a common project, the members of a classroom community build bonds that strengthen that community. Is money the issue? • It’s more than a lack of money, it’s also social isolation and poor self-esteem. How can the school community be an important factor in helping to solve poverty within the school? • It's by working together that solutions can be found.

8. Our Community • 395,106 individuals accessed Ontario food banks • 37.5% were children under 18 • 63% of households receiving food were rental market tenants • 25% lived in social housing- 10.5% were gainfully employed • 44.5% depended on social assistance • 27.5% received disability-related income supports • 10% of those assisted in March were turning to food banks for the first time • 15% of food banks ran out of food during the survey period

9. “Feeding a Family” Task • When you’re done: • Have you ever been seriously hungry or known someone at school who doesn’t have enough to eat? • Think of ways they might help the hungry person. • Discuss different things your school has done to help people in the community.

10. Social Justice: The Classroom and School Community • Social justice educates both the minds and hearts of students and helps them to become thoughtful, committed, and active and responsible citizens in their classroom, school, community and the world around them. • A Responsible Citizen, as outlined Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, is defines as someone “who gives witness to Catholic social teachings by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life”. (#7: Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations - Institute for Catholic Education)

11. What Does Social Justice Look Like, Sound Like and Feel Like in a Classroom and School Community? • In order to teach social justice in the classroom, you first have to build a sense of community and belonging amongst your students in the classroom so that they can relate to it first and then apply it to their world. For example: I cannot respect the rights of a homeless person if I cannot learn to respect the rights of each of my classmates.

12. Social Justice: Student Groups/ Clubs at School • Luke 4:18 • “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind and to let the oppressed go free.” Social Justice: Outreach Project Ideas for the Classroom/ School Community • Basketeers • Toonies for Tummies • Global Share Fair • Food Drive • Mitten Drive • Shoe Drive • Street Patrol • Cards to the Elderly • Cards to Canadian Soldiers at War • The Back-to-School Back Pack Project • Environmental Initiatives • http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1461

13. SOCIAL JUSTICE IN OUR CURRICULUM Social Studies, Grades 1 to 6- Canada and World Connections • Grade 1: The Local Community - list a variety of occupations in the community and explain how they meet people’s needs. • Grade 2: Features of Communities Around the World - present information about children around the world (e.g., country of origin, language, food, clothing, homes, games; compare how people living in different climates (e.g., near the poles and near the equator) meet their needs for food, shelter, clothing, and recreation. • Grade 3: Urban and Rural Communities – (compare the characteristics of their community • to those of a different community) • Grade 5: Aspects of Citizenship and Government in Canada – identify the relevance to their own lives of individual and group rights (e.g., language rights, equality rights). • Grade 6: Canada’s Links to the World – describe Canada’s participation in international efforts to address current global issues (e.g., peacekeeping, environmental initiatives, world health initiatives, disaster, relief, regulation of child labour, human rights violations, acceptance of refugees).

14. In gaining awareness, you gain the inspiration to get into action • In the classroom: • In Art, you can mold clay, draw pictures, etc. that inform social justice issues • In Math, use statistics and word problems to demonstrate global inequities • In History and social studies, use social justice articles and documents to complement the existing curricula. • In Media, create video documentaries on social justice issues. • In English, support the use of petitions and letter writing to MPs and MPPs. • As teachers, encourage and motivate your students to develop classroom work in social justice.

15. The Heart of Service Activity Write down one thing you can do at home, at school or at play/work that will show that YOU have the HEART OF JESUS?

16. Salt and Light Closing Prayer Send your spirit upon us Lord! and anoint us for your mission. Send us Lord: to bring glad tidings to the poor, food for the hungry, shelter to the homeless, to proclaim liberty to the captives, peace to those at war, solidarity with the peoples of this world, to restore sight to the blind, perspectives to those in power, to release those in prison liberate those bound by fear, loosen the bonds of prejudice, and to announce a time of favour from You, Lord most high, Help us be salt and light for your Kingdom!