Controversial Issues in the Classroom

Controversial Issues in the Classroom ERIC Identifier: ED327453 Publication Date: 1990-09-00 Author: Harwood, Angela M. - Hahn, Carole L. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education Bloomington IN. The essence of a healthy... More

Controversial Issues in the Classroom ERIC Identifier: ED327453 Publication Date: 1990-09-00 Author: Harwood, Angela M. - Hahn, Carole L. Source: ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education Bloomington IN. The essence of a healthy democracy is open dialogue about issues of public concern. An integral part of the training of young citizens, therefore, includes the discussion of controversial social, political, and economic policies. This ERIC Digest explores the use of classroom discussions as a pedagogical technique to examine controversial issues by considering (1) the nature of controversial issues discussions, (2) the importance of discussion in social studies instruction, (3) what is known about the use of controversial issues discussions in social studies, and (4) suggestions for implementing controversial issues discussions in the classroom. WHAT IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES DISCUSSION? A controversial issues discussion is defined as reflective dialogue amon Less