Education, Equality and Justice in the New Normal

Book excerpt: Written by leading scholars and activists from Brazil, Chile, Greece, Italy, Malta, the UK, and the USA, this book shows how vitally important education is in addressing the complex social and political problems which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The growing protest and demonstrations worldwide, including the Black Lives Matter and environmental movements, have served as platforms to unmask the embedded racism, sexism, classism, and discrimination which are rooted in neo-colonial forms of exploitation. People are recognizing the intensification of the genocide of black youth, indigenous peoples, peasants and traditional communities in the global ghettos. The rising level of conscientization reached through these protests and demonstrations makes it clear that critical educators must refuse the return to neoliberal “normality” after pandemic. The chapters cover the tensions and contradictions that fuel debates in education concerning social distancing, collective illness, increasing social and economic inequality and privatization reforms. The contributors argue for social and environmental justice, the importance of educators and teacher unions, the role of environmental education, the need to guarantee cultural diversity and the strengthening of ancestral cultures. The book includes chapters by Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman and Henry A. Giroux and a Foreword by Antonia Darder.