Balancing Care, Justice and Cultural Contexts in the Classroom: A Framework for Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 2:15 pm - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Educating for Ethics through Values, Justice, and Care: Insights from AI and Advanced Analyses

Abstract

Teachers navigate complex ethical dilemmas that require balancing compassion with fairness, flexibility with structure, and relationships with policies, while considering the cultural contexts of students. This workshop addresses the challenges of balancing care and justice in culturally responsive ways by introducing a framework with eight dimensions for implementing ethical decision-making to create equitable and student-centered learning environments. A historical over-reliance on a Western understanding of justice pushed many students to the margins of education and contributed to academic and disciplinary disparities. Culturally responsive care, when applying school policies, can uplift students who have been historically left behind, while minimizing re-traumatization. Participants will practice applying the framework to authentic teaching scenarios to build confidence in ethical decision-making.

Authors

• Laurie L. Wellner, Touro University

• Linda K Cummins, National University