Teaching topics that spark debate presents a significant challenge for educators. Some teachers fret over lacking the appropriate tools or background knowledge to effectively broach these subjects, while others worry about potential repercussions for addressing them in today’s turbulent climate. Nevertheless, instructing students about contentious matters, particularly current events like those in Charlottesville and St. Louis, holds even greater significance within today’s classrooms.
As our society evolves into a more diverse nation (and global community), it’s imperative that we ensure all students find their rightful place. This involves reaching out to marginalized students, providing the necessary support for them to thrive academically, and helping them experience love and acceptance in our world. More importantly, as a nation, our path to improvement lies in education. Confronting our deficiencies and finding solutions to bridge gaps is the pivotal approach for guiding subsequent generations toward positive transformation.
To assist you in navigating this endeavor, Naomi O’Brien from Read Like a Rock Star and Michele Luck from Michele Luck’s Social Studies have shared practical insights and suggestions to overcome barriers in your classroom and address the subjects that demand attention.
Insights and Strategies for Elementary Classrooms by Naomi O’Brien
In grades K-5, particularly in the younger years, engaging in discussions of significant magnitude might seem awkward, inappropriate, or even misguided. However, I assure you that students at this level can indeed engage with these conversations if approached correctly.
As a black woman who didn’t encounter a black teacher until middle school, I would have greatly appreciated if any of my elementary school teachers had discussed issues of race with our class. Each year, all we had were a few days in February dedicated to stories about Rosa Parks, quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., and empty assurances of equality (which I knew to be far from true).
Creating a Safe Environment: Establish a safe space where all students can freely express their ideas, viewpoints, and emotions regarding the weighty subjects they will encounter. Foster a strong classroom community that collaboratively tackles challenging topics. Encourage risk-taking and divergent thinking, letting students know that unique perspectives are welcome. If there are students of color in your class, they likely have firsthand experience of the challenges stemming from their skin color, or from someone they care about. If your class lacks diversity, the students might be unaware of the hardships their peers face due to their skin color. Regardless of your audience, these lessons are crucial, necessary, and can begin shaping empathetic, well-informed students from a young age.
Analyzing Visuals: Source age-appropriate images to display for your students, either projected or in print. Provide context about the image, presenting only factual information. Your role isn’t to judge if what they see is right or wrong; you’re merely presenting information. For instance, with regards to Charlottesville, a “safe” image might be one depicting white supremacists holding torches. Prompt your students with questions like:
- What do you perceive?
- How do you think they’re feeling?
- Depending on the grade, offer some context about why these individuals rallied.
- How does this make you feel? Why?
- If you could converse with them, what would you say?
- What might be a solution to this issue?
This is an opportune moment to early on acknowledge that people of color in America have historically not been treated as equals. Much work remains for all of us. Encouraging students to be kind isn’t enough; we must teach them to be anti-racist. They need to learn how to identify racism, critically assess it, and respond when they witness it.
Regular Check-ins: Monitor how your students are coping throughout the lesson. In lower grades, allow students to draw a picture, circle a face, or draw an expression that reflects their emotions before, during, and after a challenging lesson. Older students could anonymously jot down their feelings on a Post-It note. Group similar emotional responses to foster discussion about differing viewpoints.
Insights and Strategies for Middle and High School Classrooms by Michele Luck
In secondary classrooms, students are generally willing to voice their thoughts on current events, especially when they have a personal connection. The true test lies in harnessing this willingness constructively, creating a secure space where all students can openly share their thoughts and concerns.
A method I particularly favor for teaching contentious issues is the Big Paper Activity. Here, students silently navigate the classroom, responding to questions or prompts at the top of presentation paper sheets. This cultivates a safe environment where students can share their thoughts without the pressures that discussions or debates might bring. Augment these responses with images, quotes, or news excerpts to enrich the content students can engage with.
Image Analysis serves as another invaluable tool for middle and high school classrooms. Employing spiral questioning techniques, teachers can guide students in interpreting images and deriving meaning from them. Enhance image analysis sessions by incorporating current events articles, primary sources, and whole-class comparative exercises that encourage students to analyze and assess conflicts in a more analytical manner.
Teaching effective expression is another essential skill to nurture and reinforce at the secondary level. Allocate a Genius Hour each week, allowing students to research a current event or a topic of interest. They can then present their findings to the class in any format they choose. Encourage them to tap into their creativity, presenting their insights through song, dance, drama, videos, visual art, or any medium that effectively communicates their knowledge and passion.
Our Call to Action
Irrespective of whether you’re instructing kindergarteners or high school seniors, teaching controversial issues plays a pivotal role in empowering the next generation. Guide them toward compassion and away from animosity, so they can eventually thrive in a world marked by acceptance and respect for all.
