1. Controversial Issues in Social Education Cherie Fields Stephanie Patterson

2. What are controversial issues? Issues that are likely to be sensitive that have a political, social or personal impact and arouse feelings or deal with questions of value or belief. Issues that are likely to be sensitive that have a political, social or personal impact and arouse feelings or deal with questions of value or belief. Can be local or global Can be local or global Any issue can become controversial Any issue can become controversial

3. Think-Quick Write-Pair-Share How should schools respond to controversial issues? How should schools respond to controversial issues? What can teachers do to avoid unfairly influencing pupils? What can teachers do to avoid unfairly influencing pupils? What kind of values may legitimately be taught in school? What kind of values may legitimately be taught in school?

4. Debate Activity: Rights for Children

5. How should schools respond to controversial issues? Some opportunities already exist in the curriculum Some opportunities already exist in the curriculum Provide opportunities for students to express their concerns Provide opportunities for students to express their concerns

6. Responsibility of the teacher Give equal importance to conflicting views Give equal importance to conflicting views Establish a positive classroom environment Establish a positive classroom environment Present all information and opinion as open to interpretation Present all information and opinion as open to interpretation

7. Six roles of the teacher Committed Committed Objective or Academic Objective or Academic Devil’s Advocate Devil’s Advocate Advocate Advocate Impartial Chairperson Impartial Chairperson Declared Interest Declared Interest

8. Values taught in schools Distinguish between public and private Distinguish between public and private –Public values might include:  Social Justice  Political Equality  Tolerance  Human Rights  Respect for the rule of law  Commitment to negotiation and debate to resolve conflict

9. Controversial issues can help develop thinking skills Information-processing skills Information-processing skills Reasoning skills Reasoning skills Enquiry skills Enquiry skills Creative thinking skills Creative thinking skills

10. Global Education and Controversial Issues

11. Resources “Teaching about controversial issues: guidance for schools” The Citizenship Foundation “Teaching about controversial issues: guidance for schools” The Citizenship Foundation http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/lib_res_p df/0118.pdf http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/lib_res_p df/0118.pdf “Global Citizenship Guides: Teaching Controversial Issues” Oxfam GB “Global Citizenship Guides: Teaching Controversial Issues” Oxfam GB http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/teachersuppo rt/cpd/controversial/files/teaching_controversial_ issues.pdf http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/teachersuppo rt/cpd/controversial/files/teaching_controversial_ issues.pdf