A More Perfect Union: The Social Justice Journey in the U.S.
What is it?
The Grand Classroom Program A More Perfect Union - The Social Justice Journey in the US was created in response to the recent events in our country that have brought issues such as civil rights to the forefront of our national conversation. Our goal with this program is to build on Grand Classroom’s existing itineraries, by providing a more in-depth and profound experience of our nation’s historical and ongoing crusade in the struggle for equality, fairness and dignity to all human beings. By creating experiences that delve deeper into the personal stories surrounding all aspects of social justice - institutionalized racial discrimination, disenfranchisement and segregation, wealth and access disparity - students will develop a more intimate understanding of, and appreciation for, the cause of justice and equality for all. It is our hope that this exposure will motivate them to ultimately embrace their own personal role in this quest, and be motivated to alter the narrative moving forward.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Where do we go?
Grand Classroom’s initial focus is systemic racism under the umbrella of the Civil Rights Movement, specifically providing experiences in the Washington DC area and the Southern States. Ultimately, Grand Classroom will have a suite of itineraries that offer an in-depth authentic experience of carefully selected sites and programs that illustrate all Social Justice struggles.
What are our goals?
- To provide authentic experiences that delve into the history of each issue, to help facilitate a deeper understanding of social justice struggles and its history in the US. Our ultimate goal is to motivate students to embrace “their” struggle as “our” struggle.
- To support teachers and students in their efforts to keep the experience alive in their school communities by providing complementary classroom materials that assist students in their own personal efforts to become a Social Justice advocate in their community, by illuminating what can be done locally to move the needle in this national effort.
- To cultivate meaningful, long-term relationships with our vendors, guides and partnering organizations in order to create a unique, thoughtful, one-of-a-kind experience for students and teachers.