As a principal you will know better than most that controversy is an unavoidable fact of life in schools today. The use of social media and instant forms of communication brings school students into daily contact with issues like immigration, climate change, terrorism and LGBT rights. Handling issues like these can be challenging, but how are young people to make sense of them if they are not allowed to discuss them at school? How will they learn to think critically or debate democratically if they do not have a teacher to guide them? Discussing controversial issues has many benefits, but it is not a task to take lightly. Among other things, you need a well-trained staff, a relevant curriculum, and a supportive school ethos.
The material in this section is largely based on two Council of Europe manuals.
The training pack Teaching Controversial Issues is available to download at: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/charter-edc-hre-pilot-projects/teaching-controversial-issues-developing-effective-training-for-teachers-and-school-leaders
The school self-evaluation tool Managing Controversy is available to download at: https://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/charter-edc-hre-pilot-projects/project-1-managing-controversy-a-whole-school-training-tool
