I spent a good part of this summer meeting with many of you who are immersed in social justice work.

In our K-12 locals, at our higher education institutions, in our SRP chapters and among our health care workers, many exciting initiatives are taking place. It is clear our membership understands that a social justice agenda must deal with empowerment of those oppressed in order to be truly transformational.

Most exciting is the awareness that incorporating social justice into curriculum is an opportunity to graduate a generation of students who can think for themselves and who are acutely aware of the role they can play in speaking out against oppression.

Students should have the opportunity to debate and research social justice issues, and we should guide them in their options for action to effect change.

Certainly, many of our members are doing this, and here is one excellent example:

This summer, I attended "The Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies" in Hamburg, Erie County. Now in its second year, the program was created by teachers, administrators and school board members. It offers an effective social justice educational experience for students, and is a model of collaboration between union and administration. Hamburg Teachers Association President Kathryn Fendya and Vice President Martha Kavanaugh are supporters.

Genocide is the main topic of the two-week institute. The 65 student and teacher participants are left with a thorough understanding of genocide in our world history, from the Holocaust to modern-day Darfur.

Having witnessed firsthand the dedication and effectiveness of the instructors, I was reminded that educators have a responsibility to expose our students to these truths.

Too often we sacrifice thoughtful and thorough learning for the sake of memorization or the preparation for state tests.

I would argue that this sacrifice breeds a generation of apathy and unawareness. This institute gave students and teachers the opportunity to hear the experiences of genocide survivors and to learn the ingredients that have led to genocide over time.

Students are encouraged to take their new knowledge to make a difference in the world - in a sense to become gatekeepers of "Never Again."

The ultimate goal of the institute's founders is to replicate this program throughout the state and country. To find out more, visit www.buffaloforafrica.org/summerinstitute.

Recently, a second summer institute, using the Hamburg model, was formed in southern Chautauqua County, organized by Chautauqua Lake Teachers. Other states are looking at forming their own institutes.

We challenge you to incorporate social justice into your curriculum. When you do, we ask that you share it with us so we, in turn, can share these ideas with other NYSUT members.

This is a continuation of our important work on the Robert F. Kennedy project last year.

Coming up

While NYSUT is always involved in social justice, I want to call attention to two statewide projects members can join this first semester of school:

• Reverse Trick or Treating Project to promote Fair Trade chocolate. Visit www.nysut.org and click on the "Social Justice and Labor Center" link.
• Join us for the annual Educational Conference Board's statewide conference that will focus on bullying. It will take place Dec. 10 at the Desmond hotel in Albany. Kevin Jennings, who wowed the audience at our Representative Assembly in April, will deliver the keynote.

Finally, I am happy to report that under the leadership of Mike Dolber, president of the Bellmore-Merrick United Secondary Teachers, Dr. Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, will address their entire faculty and administration in November as part of a staff development day.

Mike's interest was a result of hearing Jennings at the RA.

This is yet another example of how our union members can lead the way in the critical work of social justice in education.