The Class of 2018 at The Cambridge School of Weston will be the first to complete the school’s four-year social justice graduation requirement. Students must take at least 12 courses that reflect the diverse viewpoints, complexity, and richness of the multicultural world they live in. They explore multiple perspectives, examine models of social change, and engage in meaningful and purposeful action.

Rose Crawford ’18 credits her U.S. Constitution course, in which students must apply the document to several real and fictional Supreme Court cases, for igniting her passion for legal studies and civil rights activism. Taught by History teacher Anjali Bhatia, a former international human rights lawyer, the assignments become more difficult and intense (briefing cases like Marbury v. Madison and Tinker v. Des Moines School District), culminating in the preparation and presentation of oral arguments for two mock cases, and sitting as a Justice for another. Most grading is done in groups, so students are asked to trust and depend on their peers while holding up their own end of the workload.

“It was amazing, because I was able to look at the evolution of constitutional law and its effect on our lives,” Rose says. “I aspire to be a lawyer, and this class gave me insight into what it’s like to see the United States through a legal lens.”

“We all have a role to play,” says Dean for Equity and Inclusion Rosanna Salcedo, “something to contribute to the improvement of society. This requirement helps to equip our students with the skills, knowledge, and real-life experiences they’ll need to make a meaningful difference.”