This paper critically examines the spatial context of discussing controversial issues in educational settings. It begins by evaluating the concept of safe spaces, addressing significant critiques such as the illusion of safety, essentialism, censorship, and the negativity of learning. Next, civility is considered as an alternative, highlighting…

Public education reflects the ideas that various stakeholders hold about relationships between schooling and society and the forms of knowledge that are deemed most socially valuable (Kliebard, 2004; Spring, 2016). Public education can be used to support human flourishing and the cultivation of skills needed for civic participation in democratic…

Dealing with controversial issues is one of the most important tasks teachers perform. In this article, the author presents a few core concepts and research findings that are essential for understanding what teaching controversial issues is all about and why it is so important to develop capability in this methodology.

This document records testimony from a hearing held to examine the real impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) on college campuses. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Burgess Owens, Chairman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Workforce Development; and (2) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress…

This article is a constructively self-critical autoethnography of my evolving identity as an instructor in a race and ethnicity course. I supplement and contextualize my self-reflections with data in the form of comments from student evaluations. I begin by considering how my social location mediates class dynamics. I then present comments from…

This study aims to explore parents' views and concerns regarding the teaching of politics and the inclusion of politically controversial issues in schools. We employed an exploratory sequential design and a mixed-methods approach in this study. Initially, we conducted indepth interviews with 12 parents to explore their perspectives on teaching…

This article discusses the way teachers in primary and secondary schools in England engaged with a project to develop a Worldviews approach to Islam in the RE classroom. The project identified challenges and barriers to the teaching of Worldviews that were demonstrated by some teachers' unwillingness to engage with knowledge and curriculum content…

This article provides an introduction to randomized response polling, a technique which was designed to allow for questioning on sensitive issues while protecting the respondent's privacy and avoiding social desirability bias. It is described in terms that are suitable for presentation and use in any classroom environment. Instructions for plain…

Constructive controversies, where team members discuss their different opinions openly and politely, can stimulate interprofessional learning (IPL): the learning that occurs in the interactions between two or more different professions. However, in science-based controversies where members compete to be the expert learning becomes complicated.…

Recognizing that the American right, and specifically the Christian right, has achieved disproportionate power over shaping the landscape of education policy and political culture, the following engages in a twofold analysis of schooling in the United States. We consider the structural transformations that are being enacted as a result of the…

Contemporary literature reveals that many educators, especially those in elementary schools and in conflict-effected societies, are reluctant to engage in the teaching of current public issues, even more so social controversies. However, this qualitative study examined the successful experience and the perspectives of educators from two elementary…

Although lessons about sexism can increase gender egalitarianism in children, teachers often shy away from discussing sensitive topics, such as sexism, in classrooms. We conducted two studies to examine why teachers may not discuss sexism. In a qualitative study with 20 primary school teachers, teachers reported not discussing sexism because of…

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of book challenges in educational contexts in the United States. Books representing sexual and gender diversity have been particularly targeted, as have books by and about people of color. Further, many states restrict or censor curricula and discussions of sexual and gender…

In this article, we provide an overview of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and consider its implications for communication classrooms in higher education. We assert that we as communication educators have a moral imperative to consider the role of intersectionality and reproductive justice in our teaching philosophies and implementation, and to do…

Teaching literacy skills through high-quality trade books that provide diverse cultural perspectives is increasingly difficult due to challenges to teachers' book selections. To meet their professional responsibilities, teachers must select literature they judge effective for developing students' awareness and understanding of others'…