Chapter 7: Pink Sparkly Shoes: A Transformed Community, A Transformed Curriculum: Perspectives from Three Voices

A school in the midst of creating a social justice curriculum learns and grows in response to a rich and controversial first grade lesson and its subsequent impact on the larger school community. Addison, a first grade boy who often chooses to dress in “girl clothes” inspired his peers to act in the name of equity. After a read aloud that led to discussion about how clothing is arranged in stores, students chose to write a letter to a large commercial franchise suggesting they organize their clothing in ways not based on gender. The parent body reacted with both support and criticism and much was learned along the way.