Progressive Islamic School Leadership: Educating Students for Social Justice (Poster 3)

• In Event: Friday Poster Session 7:45 am
  In Poster Session: Timely Leadership Issues From Various Socio, Cultural, and Racial Perspectives

Abstract

Social justice in Islam centers on the idea that individuals have fundamental rights that should be upheld. This study shows that for American Muslims living in a time of increased tension, a gap exists between how Islamic schools are viewed and the lived experiences of Muslim students. In North Star Academy, social justice was a concept directly taught, and students were encouraged to take ownership of their thinking, learning, and relationships. This often meant questioning familial norms and values, something teachers and leaders supported. The school did not see questioning as a limitation; rather, they viewed this pedagogy as social justice in action. The school’s progressive ideology mirrors traditional concepts, revealing social justice in Islamic education is timeless and necessary.

Authors

• Miriam Deborah Ezzani, Texas Christian University

• Melanie Carol Brooks, Edith Cowan University