Why is preschool the perfect time to introduce social justice?

What if our classrooms could be places where every child feels valued, heard, and respected right from the start?

I recently found myself reflecting on what a perfect preschool classroom would look like to me. In my dream, there's a lot more outdoor space than indoor. Students can explore and learn on their own with some guidance from adults. These programs are staffed with educators who are well-compensated for their expertise and craft, with veteran teachers mentoring rookie teachers. We have elders reading books to the children and sharing stories, and high school students who are interested in child development come by to help. The whole community is involved—every day, someone new comes to talk about their culture, job, or life. Kids are encouraged to ask questions, express themselves, and have meaningful conversations. Everyone from the students, teachers and community at large feels like they belong. Essentially, what I have described is a social justice school.

Why Preschool is the Perfect Time to Introduce Social Justice:

Social justice is a term that many people have heard and may even have a general idea about, but it can be tricky to define. Broadly, social justice is concerned with ensuring that everyone in a community or society is treated with respect, dignity, and humanity. Introducing social justice concepts in preschool is often misunderstood as engaging young children in intense conversations beyond their understanding. However, it's really about creating a community that values humanity, dignity, community, and respect.

Preschool is an ideal time to introduce these concepts because young children have an innate sense of fairness and an acute awareness of right and wrong. If you've ever been around young children for any amount of time, you've probably heard them shout "THAT'S NOT FAIR" for reasons that may seem trivial to adults. This sense of fairness provides a natural foundation for teaching social justice.

The Role of Theory and Practice in Social Justice Education

Many people groan when I insist on teaching theory first, mistaking it for untested ideas or thoughts. However, in the sciences, including social sciences such as social justice, a theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts. Can you practice painting or photography without knowing color theory? Of course! However, the most successful artists in the world hold some knowledge around color theory that was either acquired through traditional or nontraditional means.

Theory gives us a deeper understanding of the practice. In my first few years of teaching I had assumptions about my students and their families that I would never hold today. I had expectations for my students that weren’t developmentally appropriate. This growth came from gaining a deep understanding of how young children grow and develop. Social justice theory is the culmination of how social movements develop over time to deepen the understanding of our responsibility to each other. To quote Vice President Kamala Harris “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?...You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” Our ideas about respect, fairness and dignity that we have today did not just appear out of thin air. They have grown and adapted from those the social justice advocates and scholars who paved the way for us today.

I used to think advocacy meant using my voice to speak for others. Now, I understand that advocacy involves listening to communities, elevating the voices of those most impacted by oppression, and ensuring they have the tools and resources to advocate for themselves. Social justice is the theory, and advocacy is the practice. These two elements are inseparable; theory informs practice, and practice reinforces theory.

Returning to my reflection on the perfect preschool classroom, it becomes clear that such an environment is not only possible but necessary for fostering social justice from an early age. By creating a community that values humanity, dignity, and respect, we lay the foundation for children to grow into compassionate and socially conscious individuals. Preschool is not just a place for learning ABCs and 123s; it's where the seeds of social justice are planted, nurtured, and allowed to flourish. In this ideal setting, we are not only educating children but also re-imagining education itself, ensuring that each child understands their value and the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. This is the essence of social justice in education, and this is exactly why preschool is the perfect time to introduce these critical concepts.