Expanding the Landscape of Social Justice: A Critical Ecological Analysis

Abstract

The social justice discourse in education has been critiqued by Bowers and others for its lack of attention to a broad range of related ecological issues. This article analyzes and critiques the current discourse of social justice in the field of educational leadership and offers an expanded concept of socioecological justice in schools. Arguing that pedagogy is a critical vehicle for addressing socioecological justice, the authors develop a model for a critical pedagogy of place and describe specific instructional methodologies associated with the model. The article concludes with suggestions for a critical leadership of place intended to enhance socioecological justice in schools.