Critical analysis of how and why controversial issues could be /has been included in your teaching, with specific reference made to curriculum req...

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Teachers in every subject area face the challenge of teaching content that may be controversial in some way. The global origin of Language, for example, allows teachers to explore not only different cultures and traditions but also contentious issues as environment, sustainability and historical or current event such as immigration.
As a Lote teacher, I personally believe that such issues are a perfect vehicle for students to grapple with their faith and reach a deeper understanding of the economic and moral effects of these problems in the world and especially in Australia. They provide opportunities for involving both `head and hart` during the discussion and perceive different prospectives of the reality.
In the catholic environment in which I teach, the St. Mary's College in Hobart, there are policies in place to ensure that teachers have an understanding of what is appropriate for the students in both developmentally and culturally. The school's mission statement, also , stresses that " we provide strong role models who attempt to demonstrate leadership in applying Christian values to contemporary issues in education, care of the environment and social issues" (St. Mary's College Statement of Mission, 2014).
Educators are encouraged to use their facilitator skills to enable dynamic discussions with emphasis on Christian values in order to build the critical faculties of students in a physical and emotional safety environment. The purpose of the discussion, also, is to improve students' higher order thinking skills as required in the Australian National Curriculum.
When planning instruction for controversial topics, however, educators need to consider not only student's emotional age, school's values and policies, also mater...

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...gton, DC: George Washington University, School of Education and Human Development.
Downey, D. J. and R. S. Torrecilha. 1994. “Sociology of race and ethnicity: Strategies for comparative multicultural courses.” Teaching Sociology 22: 237-247.
Clough, N and Holden, C (2002) Education for Citizenship: Ideas into Action. London: Routledge Falmer.
Holden, C (2004) ‘Heaven help the teachers! Parents’ perspectives on the introduction of education for citizenship, Educational Review, 56 (3): 247-258.
Holden, 2014. Global Education Professional Learning Conference. 14-16 January 2014. Newham campus, Launceston Tasmania.

Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (2011). Cross-curriculum Priorities. Sydney: ACARA. Retrieved Aug 18, 2013, from http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html.

St. Mary's College Statement of Mission, 2014

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