Teaching+Controversial+Issues

**Creating Safe Spaces**
This is particularly important when dealing with controversial issues. It is //**essential**// to help protect students from racism, sexism, weightism, homophobia, etc.

//What can you do to create a safe environment that encourages discussion?//

//Some ideas from teachers at Historical Thinking Project workshop://

//- showing respect to students when they share opinions, exploring students' viewpoints, even if they are different than our own// //- students have earned the respect of the teacher from the moment they enter the class; it is the teacher who must earn respect.// //- framing the classroom in a way that the teacher is a co-learner// //- if we are co-facilitators and co-learners, we need to help students understand their role// //- ask yourself: are students doing this out of respect or fear?// //- know your students,empathize with them//

**Strategies for the Classroom**
1. Kids need to feel safe to express diverse opinions. Can we shift classroom dynamics when students have gone to school together for many years?

2. Control our "talkers" What techniques can we use to ensure equal distribution of classroom participation?

3. Opinions differ from ours. If, as a teacher, we share our opinions, how do we ensure students who have different opinions feel comfortable in sharing and are willing to discuss?

//For further reading, check out Peggy McIntosh and her thoughts on white privilege.//