How Do We Teach Things That Matter?

 

Teaching about topics that are seen as controversial has been something that I, and I am sure many other educators are weary of, but I think it is important to understand that our society has a history that can be controversial and one of the major ways that we can grow is to learn from our mistakes. Being able to create a classroom that is a safe space where students feel that they can voice their opinions and not receive backlash from others is a huge goal that I think all educators should strive to achieve. 

One way that educators can make sure that they have created a classroom where students are able to voice their opinions, is to create a classroom where everyone feels respected at all times. When a teacher is presenting a topic of conversation that has the possibility of being controversial, by having an expectation where students are taught to respect the teachers and their peer's opinions on the topic there is a higher possibility for more student participation in conversations. Along with having the expectation that students should respect one another, educators should also be aware that with topics that have a history of being controversial or hard to talk about, that there will be biases that will come with the given topic. When biases are presented it is important that the educator let it be known and aware that every student no matter their race, ethnicity, or age will most likely have some type of bias towards any given topic purely based on whether they have discussed or had previous information regarding the topic. When these biases present themselves as an educator you should be able to explain to your students that, while they are discussing these topics they should do the best that they can to leave all biases at the door. By doing this you are creating a space that is open to new points of view in topics and allowing students to feel more comfortable when they have a different opinion than their peers.