When teaching controversial issues, should teachers play it safe or take some risks? How much risk is too much? How do political and historical contexts affect how educators explore controversial issues in their classrooms? Should students be expected to share their perspectives on controversial issues?
In Part 2 of Brett's interview with Judy Pace, Judy explains what her research taught her about how contextual factors affect educators' instruction about controversial issues. She also discusses the challenges involved in building classroom community and how to make teaching controversial issues more widespread.
Judy's research and this podcast episode were supported by the Spencer Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports educational research.
Links to Judy Pace's Work
Judy Pace's Website at USF
Judy's Book - Hard Questions: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues
Links to Other Related Resources
Education for Sustainable Democracy Website
Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page
Brett Levy et al.'s Article & Framework for Guiding Classroom Discussions
Related ESD Episodes
Judy Pace Interview, Part 1: Learning to Teach Controversial Issues
Prof. Diana Hess on Teaching Controversial Issues
Prof. Wayne Journell on Modeling Political Tolerance