This course will be offered as an after-school elective in the Middle School. As part of National Cathedral School’s curriculum within the Center for Ethical Leadership and Service (CELS), the course will teach middle school students critical tools and skills to lead courageous dialogue related to equity, diversity and social justice. Each session of the seminar will include a learning component, an action component, and a reflection component. In the learning component, teachers will use texts, videos, and presentations to develop students’ understanding of a theme and its context. Themes might include: identity, specific identifiers (gender, race, religion, ability, etc.), values, diversity, multiculturalism, equity, social justice, and more. In the action component, students will engage in an experiential activity which connects to what they have learned. During the reflection component, students will examine their own experiences and reflect in writing or discussion, independently or with the group. Students will complete a short, ungraded, assignment in between session meetings. The culmination of the course will be a leadership project in which students facilitate a courageous dialogue among their peers.
