history, teachers have faced controversial topics in their classrooms.
Do they teach these topics or do they adhere to convention and ignore
the opportunity to open young minds? For those of the past, asking
students to consider new theories could be career ending, and sometimes
dangerous. But for teachers today, teaching students to think for
themselves is expected, and controversy should be a part of every
classroom experience!
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| Image taken by Brian Sims in Oakland 99% Strike. |
Here are some history lessons to consider:
What would the world be like if Socrates did not teach his students to think?
What would the world be like if Martin Luther did not teach his disciples to question?
What would the world be like if Galileo didn’t teach his followers to investigate?
What would the world be like if Scopes bowed down to the power of his peers?
What would the world be like if Martin Luther King Jr. allowed the status quo to remain in effect?
What
would the world be like if WE did not teach what we know? If we just
passed on the FACTS, and never asked our students to think or question
or investigate? What would our future be if we didn’t support our
students in standing up against peer pressure and facing off against the
status quo?
- Introduce the topics that some fear and avoid.
- Allow open discussion, and welcome the devil’s advocate into the classroom.
- Encourage investigation and the introduction of new theories.
- Teach respect for others and an appreciation of difference.
- Do
not ONLY teach the facts, but ask the right questions to allow students
to discover their own interests and theories on the topics introduced.
Accept
that your students will feel differently than you do about the events
and topics you introduce. Appreciate this fact, and remember that they
are the future…
And finally, keep your fingers
crossed! Do not be naive that teaching controversy will not bring
conflict and chaos. Just be prepared to defend your lessons and to
defend your obligation to prepare your students to the real world we
live in today!
Here are some controversial lessons to get you started!
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| Who is the real hero? |
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| What really happened? |
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| What should have been done? |
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| It wasn’t a war? |
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| Was it worth the costs? |
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| Should we have…? |
Happy Teaching!