Teaching Students About Social Justice
 EDC has created a variety of classroom resources that build students’ understanding of the complexities and subtleties of issues surrounding social justice—from counteracting racial and ethnic prejudices to understanding the effect economic decisions have on workers and the environment to appreciating how and why laws are applied. Like all the materials EDC develops, these resources do not push an agenda, but rather they give students the knowledge and tools to help them think and respond critically.
 The Rules of War
Attacks on civilians, torture, the use of child soldiers or biological weapons—all are prohibited in war. But not everyone is familiar with the international humanitarian laws that govern armed conflict. To introduce students to the concepts and content of these rules, EDC and the International Committee of the Red Cross developed the Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) program. The newly launched EHL Virtual Campus Web site helps teachers bring this program to classrooms around the globe.
 Corporate Responsibility
“Global Citizens,” a unit in EDC’s Ford PAS program, introduces students to the concept of corporate citizenship—the responsibility that companies have to enact policies and practices that address emerging social and environmental issues around the world. Through case studies and role plays, students learn about the different kinds of social and environmental issues—such as pollution, labor practices, and worker health—that arise in different business contexts around the world, and look at how companies have addressed these issues.
 Debating Capital Punishment
Through the use of real-life cases, Capital Punishment in Context provides college students a starting point for exploring the complex issues that affect our understanding of capital punishment. Analysis and discussion of the cases and related materials are designed to develop analytical and investigative skills, and to facilitate students’ consideration of their own background assumptions and biases in the context of multiple sources of evidence and perspectives.
 Affordable Housing
How hard is it to afford your own home? Do you have to be rich? An EDC-developed curriculum is helping students understand the costs of owning a home and brainstorm ways that communities can make it possible for more low-income families. Understanding Affordable Housing Through Service-Learning explores the political, legal, and social factors contributing to the current shortage of affordable housing, and presents strategies for improving the situation.
 Hate Crime Prevention
Believing that violence and prejudice are learned behaviors that are preventable and that students can develop critical thinking skills to respond to and prevent hate crimes, EDC designed the Healing the Hate curriculum for middle schools and youth organizations. The curriculum includes interactive classroom exercises to provoke debate about issues and ideas, illustrate the profound impact of hate crimes, and help students develop skills to recognize and counteract prejudice in their schools and communities.
 Justice and Mislaid Blame
Concerned that the terrorist attacks of 9/11 created a hostile climate for Arab-Americans—much like the climate Japanese-Americans faced following the attack on Pearl Harbor, EDC developed a curriculum for middle and high school students focused on issues of justice and mislaid blame. Beyond Blame: Reacting to the Terrorist Attack features three lessons, designed to stimulate student reflection, discussion, and writing.
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