And now a word from an Outsider, "People, I just want to say, can we all get along?"

An Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic, Standards-based Unit on building tolerance, understanding and acceptance of differences. "Social Justice reflects the general rejection of discrimination based on distinctions between class, gender, ethnicity, or culture." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice) "Social justice refers to the concept of a just society, where "justice" refers to more than just the administration of laws. It is based on the idea of a society which gives individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society. Different proponents of social justice have developed different interpretations of what constitutes fair treatment and a just share. Social justice is also a concept that some use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice) As educators, our desire for each of our students is to help them become successful, upstanding, contributing members of society. Throughout the history, social justice issues have presented themselves overtly and covertly. Intolerance of those with diverse ideas, races, religions, and ethnicities have generated violence, wars, bullying, sometimes through ignorance and oftentimes, intentionally. In our society today, as in the past, there continue to be many injustices, from economic inequality to ethnic and sexual discrimination to common every day bullying, at the individual and societal levels. Studying tolerance and acceptance through literature can open students' minds to the concept that change is possible. It is essential that students observe, identify and analyze various forms of social injustice and understand what social justice might look like in our society today. This unit includes concepts of prejudice, tolerance, appreciating Diversity in others, as well as the topics of life in the 60's, homelessness, school drop-outs, gangs, cliques, and bullying.