Level 1 Social Justice Studies (SJS101)

This Social Sciences course has an overarching theme of social justice which will be explored using historical and contemporary case studies, and combine assessments from both the social studies and history learning areas.

The first half of the year will focus on the Global flows of ideas, people, and objects and how they interact with and influence present societies and possible futures. Students will explore how we live in an interconnected world where global flows interact and impact people through studies of Fair Trade practices in the chocolate and coffee industries, and the exploration of the impact of Fast Fashion on the environment, producers, consumers and of course workers.  Wihtin these case studies Ākonga develop understanding of the contested and controversial nature of concepts such as ‘rights’ and ‘justice’ in systems, and their relationship with past decisions and actions. 

The second half of the year will explore the idea that societies are developed through a range of diverse systems that have multiple impacts on the lives of people. Ākonga will learn about social organisation in the past and present and consider implications and challenges for the future.  .   There will be an examination of the challenges faced by some, such as marginal groups, and barriers to participation through exploring the Civil Rights Movement in the USA, and then more recent examples of social actions such as the 1970s protests movements in Aotearoa, the recent Black Lives Matter movements, and the responses to the ongoing practices of the Dawn Raids. 

This is an integrated course where students complete 12 internally assessed credits (8 credits from Social Studies and 4 credits from History domains).

Please discuss this course with your Social Studies teacher, or Mrs Peszynski in E11.