Factors Explaining High School Teachers' Reported Discussions of Controversial Issues

• In Event: Democratic Citizenship in Education Paper Session 3

Abstract

Promoting civil awareness through discussion of controversial topics is one of the important and challenging roles teachers have. The present study examined the way 1,621 Israeli high school teachers handled the sensitive topic of Jewish-Arab relations. Teachers who knew the Ministry of Education policy regarding political discussions, who felt they would be supported in case of a complaint, who believed that promoting civic education was part of their role as teachers, who had higher self-efficacy in holding discussions, and who had undergone multicultural training in the past five years were more likely to report discussions. Implications for teacher education and policy are discussed.

Authors

• Shahar Gindi, Beit Berl College

• Rakefet Erlich Ron, Beit Berl Academic College