If you include topics of peace and nonviolence in your curriculum these may include controversial issues.
See below for examples of controversial issues recently discussed in the NZ press.
Teachers may feel uncomfortable with this. However addressing such issues can help to build conceptual understandings, develop critical thinking and develop a reflective social inquiry approach.
Teaching about controversial issues
The following resources may be useful.
Teaching and Learning about Controversial Science Issues by Dr Kathy Griffiths (2010), the University of Waikato
http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/4808
Teaching Controversial Issues – Oxfam Global Citizenship Guide
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/teachersupport/cpd/controversial/
Dealing with Controversial Issues – Video Recording by Social Studies in Action
http://www.learner.org/libraries/socialstudies/issues/issues/index.html?pop=yes&pid=1797
Teaching Emotive and Controversial History – NZ History Online
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/classroom/teaching-emotive-and-controversial-history
Communicating about violence, peace and social justice – Australian Psychological Association
(e.g. Why is it so difficult to talk about war, violence and injustice?)
http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/communicating/
Controversial issues in the NZ Press
Kindy kids get gun licences
The NZ media reports on children in kindergarten’s being issued with ‘gun licences’.
A range of links related to this issue
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/4824535/Kindy-kids-get-gun-licences
- http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kindy-kids-get-firearm-licences-4093787
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1103/S00128/gun-safety-training-in-kindergartens.htm
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/4614081/More-police-threatened-with-guns
- http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Kindy-kids-playing-guns—good-idea/tabid/426/articleID/19424/Default.aspx
- http://groups.google.com/group/nz.general/browse_thread/thread/6024b3a6ebe77b9f
- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/travel/world/kindergarten-students-gun-injures-three-at-school-in-accidental-firing/story-e6frfhdo-1226041904753
The white poppy appeal for Anzac Day
White poppies for peace are “to remember all the casualties of war and top promote peace”
A range of links related to this issue…
- http://richardjacksonterrorismblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/why-i-wear-the-white-poppy-not-the-red-poppy/
- http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/poppy09.htm
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10639782
- http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=113623&fm=psp,nwl
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3608427/White-poppy-collectors-threatened
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10639782
Links from the UK
Children’s activities
- A Tale of Two Poppies – Talking with Children about Remembrance – a resource for the early years
Flag burning on Anzac Day
Activists protest on the issue of “Lest we forget – already forgotten: Afghanistan, East Timor and Solomon Islands”, and their “Troops out now!” campaign.
A range of links related to this issue…
- http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/flag-burning
- http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4973951/Ruling-makes-flag-burning-legal-says-expert
- http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/valerie-morse/
Some related links from the Australian press
- http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/fight-free-of-anzac-lest-we-forget-other-stories-20090422-afb5.html
- http://blogs.theage.com.au/yoursay/archives/2009/04/creation_of_a_n.html
The Kill Factor
The Kill Factor was aired on Windows of the World, Radio NZ National (June 2011). On this BBC World Service Documentary soldiers talk about killing and how the effect this has on them. These discussions address the spectrum of experiences related to war and violence.
These audios could be used to facilitate discussion about controversial issues such as militarisation, conscription, deaths of civilians, returning soldiers, post-traumatic stress disorder.
Part 1
Part 2
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