Special Education: Race, Bullying &Discrim

Critically examines youth bullying, violence, discrimination, and harassment as they primarily occur in educational contexts. Cross-listed with: EDHE 2520.

Mondays are live online and Wednesdays are asynchronous Prereq: EDSP 1050 Open to degree and PACE students

Course Description: Across the United States, schools are confronting the effects of bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence, which threaten the physical, emotional and intellectual safety of students and school staff. These types of victimization experiences occur across geographic, socioeconomic and racial contexts and have direct, measurable effects on academic achievement. Furthermore, the current socio-political and racial environment, has further illustrated entrenched implicit and explicit biases and structural racism evidenced through federal policies, police brutality, hate crimes and youth victimization. Schools are reflections of society and escalating hate based national rhetoric and violence has had demonstrable “spillover” in schools. The current racial climate and its connection to youth violence will be examined through federal policies, research, empirical evidence and promising school and community-based prevention strategies. This course will incorporate cross-disciplinary perspectives drawing on public health, social work, education, sociology, criminal justice and psychology to critically examine youth bullying, violence, discrimination, and harassment as they primarily occur in educational contexts. To reflect the interdisciplinary orientation of this course, students with a variety of disciplinary backgrounds (e.g., education, social work, nursing, psychology, sociology, health sciences) are welcome and encouraged to participate in this course. This course will provide opportunities to consider specific types of identity-based bullying and youth violence, such as homophobia, sexism, racism, ableism, and weight-based discrimination. Although middle and high schools will be central settings examined, the course material will be applicable to elementary and community-based settings. The course will draw on empirical research, case studies, national and local school-based bullying and harassment policies, documentary films, existing bullying and harassment prevention programs, and theoretical foundations to accomplish the major learning objectives.

Class participation and engagement is crucial as this course is meant for a collaborative process of learning to grapple and understand issues of bullying, discrimination, harassment and safety. This is a hybrid course meaning the instructional delivery modality will include in-person instruction as well as online delivery of content. The expectation is that students will be highly engaged across all learning modalities--which includes actively participating in online discussion forums as assigned.

Short Reflective Memos--20% Documentary Reflections--15% Resource List--20% Final Project-- 30% Class Participation and Attendance--15%