Rita the leader...

Why do you think Rita can be regarded as a leader with a social justice perspective?  What might have contributed to her embrace of that perspective?  What are the obstacles, dilemmas, or professional dangers of adopting a social justice perspective?

Time and time again in the article, Rita is regarded as a leader who really connects with students.  She is portrayed as someone who goes beyond race or class stratification.  She looks at the child and measures her success based on fixing deficits.  Many problems are apparent at Wilson and to correct them will take Rita numerous hours of hard work and frustration.  The article eludes to the fact that she didn't know anything was wrong while she was a teacher at Wilson.  I find it hard to believe that she didn't see the segregation while she was at Wilson.  This point aside, many obstacles and dilemmas will be in her way.  The current model of stratification has been in place for many years.  This alone would be hard for anyone to change.  The second obstacle will be the support the programs have from the higher class parents.  When changes are made that are not favorable to the elite, these parents will pressure the superintendent and the school board.  If they realize the changes that need to take place, perhaps Rita can begin to truly implement some social justice at Wilson.  If not, she may very well find herself looking for a new job.  This is a bad situation for anyone to be in.  It will really test the moral beliefs that she has.  To me, the first step she will need to take is converting the basic course teachers to her way of thinking (they probably already do), then she will have some numbers to back up her beliefs within the school.