Sensitive Political Controversies in the High School Classroom: Negotiating Competing Democratic Values

• In Event: Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Democratic Citizenship in Education Paper Discussion (Roundtable) Session

Abstract

This paper presents findings about how high school teachers approach engaging students in discussions of sensitive political issues. These are issues such as same-sex marriage, immigration policy, or affirmative action, which, in particular contexts, shine a spotlight on a minority (often vulnerable) group within the classroom. Data for this work comes from a mixed method longitudinal study of teachers (N=35) who use classroom deliberation of political issues and their students (N=1001). Drawing upon interviews and observations, we present a typology of teacher practices around sensitive issues and discuss how majority and minority students are differently affected in each approach. Finally, we discuss the ways in which teachers weigh the competing values of fairness and authenticity within democratic education.

Authors

• Paula McAvoy, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Diana E. Hess, Spencer Foundation