Climate justice: A transformational education and engagement project

Climate justice: A transformational education and engagement project

Author: Ethical Schools August 31, 2025 Duration: 45:46
We  speak with Tom Roderick, founding executive director of the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility; Jan Zuckerman, Co-founder of Sunnyside Environmental School in Portland, Oregon; and Graham Klag, an alumnus of Sunnyside Environmental School. We discuss Tom's book, Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education. Tom explains that climate chaos and social justice are inextricably linked, and proposes a program for addressing both. He centers the concept of the beloved community. Overview00:00-01:07 Intros 01:07-03:57 Why “Climate Justice?’ 03:57-06:00 Connection between climate change and social justice 06:00-07:34 The book’s primary audience 07:34-09:30 Teaching for climate justice and SEL 09:30-11:51 Sunnyside Environmental School 11:51-15:37 Meshing hands-on learning with Oregon’s state testing requirements 15:37-16:43 Storyline 16:43-19:24 Creating a “beloved community” 19:24-21:23 Impact on Graham Klag’s life as an alum 21:23-30:10 Wolf education project with ranchers’ families 30:10-34:37 Encouraging students to be hopeful 34:37-37:22 Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST, Brazil) and “contentious co-governance) 37:22-40:00 Teach for Climate Justice Project 40:00-41:27 Civil resistance 41:27-43:13 SEL in Phoenix Talent schools in Eastern Oregon 43:13- OutroTranscriptClick here to see the full transcription of this episode.References Book "Teach for Climate Justice: A Vision for Transforming Education" by Tom Roderick  Sunnyside Environmental School in Portland Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility Soundtrack by Poddington Bear Photo teachforclimatejustice.org

Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ethical Schools
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