scholarly journals Dealing with and teaching controversial issues – Teachers’ pedagogical approaches to controversial issues in Religious Education and Social Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin K. Flensner
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Religious Education ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Anti Semitism ◽  
Religious Conflicts ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

Abstract What strategies do teachers use, in classroom practice, to handle issues highly contested in society? This article focuses on how the various Middle Eastern conflicts and related topics, theoretically framed as controversial issues, are dealt with in religious education and social studies classes. The aim is to analyse pedagogical approaches teachers applied in situations where topics associated with regional, cultural, and/or religious conflicts (e.g., migration, terrorism, radicalisation, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia) were part of the teaching. What approaches were distinguishable in classroom practice? How did teachers reflect on this teaching? To examine these issues, ethnographic observations were made of religious education and civics classes at upper secondary schools in Sweden; follow-up interviews with teachers and students were also conducted to discuss the classroom situations. The approaches to teaching such difficult subject matter, as distinguishable in the classroom, were avoidance, denial of the controversy, provocation, representing/considering various perspectives, and eliciting empathy. There was a division between approaches that endeavoured to tone down the controversy versus those aimed at making the controversy more apparent. This difference can be understood as dealing with controversial issues as opposed to teaching controversial issues, which is a fundamental difference in pedagogic approaches. Keywords: controversial issues, teaching strategies, religious education, social studies, classroom observations   Att hantera och undervisa om kontroversiella frågor – Lärares didaktiska förhållningssätt till kontroversiella frågor i religionskunskap och samhällskunskap Sammandrag Vilka didaktiska förhållningssätt använder lärare i klassrummet för att hantera samhälleligt omtvistade och kontroversiella frågor? Den här artikeln fokuserar på hur Mellanösternskonflikterna och relaterade ämnen, teoretiskt inramade som kontro­versiella frågor, behandlas i religionskunskaps- och samhällskunskapsundervisning. Syftet i föreliggande artikel är att analysera lärares didaktiska handlande i undervis­ningssituationer där ämnen förknippade med regionala, kulturella och/eller religiösa konflikter (t.ex. migration, terrorism, radikalisering, främlingsfientlighet, antisemitism och islamofobi) var en del av undervisningen. Vilka didaktiska ansatser kunde urskiljas i klassrummet? Hur reflekterade lärarna över denna undervisning? För att undersöka dessa frågor genomfördes etnografiska klassrumsobservationer av religionskunskaps- och samhällskunskapsundervisning på gymnasiet i Sverige; intervjuer med lärare och elever genomfördes också för att diskutera de observerade klassrumssituationerna. Analysen visar att centrala ansatser var undvikande, förnekande av kontroversen, provokation, representation av olika perspektiv, och strategier som syftade till att skapa empati. Det fanns en skillnad mellan undervisning som sökte tona ner kontroversen jämfört med undervisning som syftade till att synliggöra olika perspektiv och positioner i den kontroversiella frågan. Denna skillnad kan förstås som att hantera kontroversiella frågor jämfört med att undervisa om kontroversiella frågor. Nyckelord: kontroversiella frågor, undervisningsstrategier, religionskunskap, samhällskunskap, klassrumsobservationer

scholarly journals Teaching Controversial Issues in Diverse Religious Education Classrooms

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Karin K. Flensner
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Multicultural Classroom ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
And Gender

In educational contexts, certain issues are perceived as controversial, since they reflect conflicts of interest and reveal divergent views. This is especially evident in debates related to religion in societies regarding themselves as secular but whose population is multi-religious. The aim of this article is to analyse how some issues that are considered controversial in the public debate are represented in the teaching of non-denominational and integrative Religious Education in a Swedish multicultural classroom practice, where the majority of students have a Muslim cultural background. The ethnographic empirical material consists of classroom observations of Religious Education lessons in upper secondary school. The analysis is based on the debate about how controversial issues ought to be taught—as empirically or politically open/settled or in a directive/non-directive way. The results indicate that a number of issues—divergent interpretations of religious narratives and religiously motivated rules, holidays, views of forgiveness, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and abortion—were regarded as open political issues in classroom practice and these were taught in an open, non-directive way. Issues represented as settled were value-oriented issues related to female genital mutilation, forced marriage and child marriage and gender equality. The arguments supporting these values were mainly rooted in religion.

scholarly journals The Power of a Controversial Issue; The Developmental Power of ‘Disruptive Moments’ for Both—Teachers and Students

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Ina ter Avest
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Religious Education ◽  
Religious Identity ◽  
Controversial Issue ◽  
Teaching Material ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Contextual Understanding ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Dialogical Self Theory

In Islamic primary education the subject of Islamic Religious Education (IRE) has a prominent place in the curriculum. In knowledge transfer and in behaving as a ‘good muslim’, aspects can be in conflict with generally accepted knowledge or customs in the Netherlands. The focus is on the power of a controversial issue (either or not wearing a head scarf) as a ‘disruptive moment’, stimulating pupils’ religious identity development. An example of recently developed teaching material illustrates the actual didactical approach regarding such a controversial issue. For a contextual understanding we start with a sketch of the Dutch educational system, and the position of Islamic education and its Islamic Religious Education (IRE) therein. In the second paragraph we describe the dialogical self theory (DST). DST’s relational understanding of a child’s development, including the developments regarding keeping a secret. In the third paragraph the case study is described, followed in the fourth paragraph by the introduction of Islamic teaching material and its way of approaching the controversial issue of the case study. We conclude our contribution with a discussion and recommendations for the development of teachers’ competencies in responding to controversial issues.

scholarly journals When Terror Strikes: The 2015 Paris Attacks in Religious Education Classrooms in Norway

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Audun Toft
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Classroom Interaction ◽  
Controversial Issue ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Main Claim ◽  
Terror Attacks ◽  
Pedagogical Issue ◽  
Upper Secondary

Terrorism is commonly considered to be a controversial issue in religious education (RE). RE teachers find it a challenging topic to address, and many avoid it altogether. This article explores the question of addressing terrorism in RE by analysing and discussing empirical observations of RE lessons in an upper secondary school in Norway in the weeks following the terror attacks in Paris in November 2015. Using framing theory, the article discusses aspects of the empirical case study, contextualised by the discussion about controversial issues in education. The main claim of the article is that, rather than seeing the terror attacks as a controversial issue in itself, the terror attacks should be treated as an event that has the potential to tap into several different controversial issues depending on the way it is framed. When addressed in the RE classroom, the teachers actively transform the event into a pedagogical issue, framed in accordance with the nature and aims of the subject. The students, however, often contest this pedagogical framing. This article discusses the interplay between teachers’ plans, students’ reactions, and the role of media in classroom interaction about the Paris attacks.

scholarly journals Tid for terror. Læreres håndtering av kontroversielle spørsmål i skolens religions- og livssynsundervisning

Prismet ◽  
1970 ◽  
pp. 261-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trine Anker ◽  
Marie Von der Lippe
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Democratic Citizenship ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Student Survey ◽  
Religion And Ethics ◽  
Religious Extremism ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Academic Competencies ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

Religious Education in Norway has been criticised for avoiding conflict perspectives and controversial issues. This article looks closer at some of these issues by focusing on how teachers in upper secondary school have dealt with the terrorist attacks in Norway on 22 July 2011 in the subject matter Religion and Ethics. This study takes as a starting point a previous study among students in upper secondary schools and their perceptions of what school has done in the aftermath of the incident, by adding teachers’ perspectives (Anker & von der Lippe 2015). The findings from the student survey showed that 22 July has almost been silenced in school, and the interviews with the teachers partly confirm this. The picture is however broadened, and shows that teachers have dealt with the issues in different ways. An important finding is that teachers´ personal and academic competencies seem to be important for whether and how controversial subjects are included in their teachings or not.Keywords: 22. July, controversial issues, democratic citizenship, religious extremism, religious educationNøkkelord: 22. juli, kontroversielle problemer, demokratisk statsborgerskap, religiøs ekstremisme, religionsundervisning

scholarly journals Secularized and Multi-Religious Classroom Practice-Discourses and Interactions

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Flensner
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Classroom Observations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Social Features ◽  
Ethnographic Data ◽  
Upper Secondary Schools

Secularization and diversity are two social features that characterize the contemporary world. The rhetoric of the public debate in a number of countries has become increasingly polarized and characterized by a “we” and “them” thinking that relates a national “we” to a specific religion. This occurs in part as a reaction to the changes in national monocultural paradigms as most communities today are characterized by pluralism regarding lifestyles, religion, language and geographical background. Thus, secularization processes are ongoing while many countries, not least Sweden, are becoming increasingly pluralistic and multi-religious. The school and classrooms are a mirror of the communities they are a part of. The aim of the article is to explore how secularization and increasing pluralism finds expression and interact in the classroom practice of Religious Education. The analysis is based on ethnographic data from classroom observations of Religious Education in four different Swedish upper secondary schools. The results indicate that secularism and non-religious positions are considered a neutral and objective position and that secularism is used as a way to maneuver diversity in the classroom which affects the possibilities of dialogue and understanding.

scholarly journals SOSIOLOGI PLURALISME DALAM PENDIDIKAN AGAMA KRISTEN UPAYA MEMBANGUN KESATUAN BANGSA

Jurnal Shanan ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-110
Author(s):  
Yonatan Alex Arifianto ◽  
Andreas Fernando ◽  
Reni Triposa
Keyword(s):  
Religious Education ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Religious Conflicts ◽  
Teachers And Students

Indonesia has experienced religious conflicts and brought about alarming humanitarian impacts. The horizontal conflict has pushed into the joints of destroying the pillars of the nation's integrity. Moreover, conflict destroys harmony, therefore the author's aim was to describe pluralism through the perspective of Christian religious education as an effort to bring generations to continue to build the nation and maintain its integrity. The writing of this article used a descriptive qualitative method with a literature study approach related to the sociology of religious pluralism in the perspective of Christian religious education as an effort to build national unity. The findings of this study are firstly the sociology of pluralism starting from recognizing and understanding the nature of pluralism and understanding all the values ​​of pluralism. Second, all believers, especially teachers and students, see and understand that pluralism in the concept of Christian Religious Education is not contradictory to what is done by people and organizations that promote pluralism, but it needs to be emphasized that pluralism in agreement is only to maintain and build the integrity of the nation. Third, on this basis, Christianity, in this case the role of Christian religious education, must be actualized in social life in pluralism.

scholarly journals Controversies, Complexities and Contexts: Teaching Islam through Internal Feminist Critique of the Religion

Religions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 662
Author(s):  
Marianne Hafnor Bøe
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Religious Education ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Feminist Critique ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
Religious Knowledge ◽  
Secondary Research ◽  
Upper Secondary ◽  
Approach To Teaching

In what ways can teaching Islam through controversial issues be useful in religious education? Can it serve to counter problems of representation of Islam, and what are the benefits and possible pitfalls of adopting such an approach? In this article, I will explore the use of Muslim internal feminist critique of conservative and patriarchal interpretations of women’s religious leadership in Islam as a controversial issues approach to teaching Islam in non-confessional religious education. The approach can be relevant for students in upper-secondary religious education, but also in teacher education. Building on secondary research documenting the problems of teaching Islam in non-confessional religious education in the Nordic countries as well as research on Muslim feminism spanning over a decade, this article investigates the didactic potentials and challenges that adopting the controversial issues approach may hold for teaching Islam. The main argument of this article is that the internal feminist debate on Islam provides an alternative entry to teaching Islam. It provides didactic resources and tools for understanding the discursive aspects of Islam, i.e., how Islam is conceived, interpreted, debated and practiced by Muslims, which in turn highlight power aspects and authority that are central to the production of religious knowledge. Consequently, the controversial issues approach may serve to counter certain “grand narratives” that seem to permeate current representations of Islam in religious education.

PROSPEK PENGEMBANGAN PONDOK PESANTREN KECAMATAN MALANGKE KABUPATEN LUWU

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Yunus Yunus
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Religious Education ◽  
Government Regulation ◽  
Boarding School ◽  
Boarding Schools ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
National Education ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
National Education System ◽  
Teachers And Students

AbstrakPola Strategi pengembangan Pondok Pesantren di Malangke, strategi pengembangan pesantren adalah cara atau srategi yang digunakan oleh wadah atau tempat guna proses suatu perubahan berencana yang memerlukan dukungan semua pihak, anatara lain Kepala, staff, guru, dan siswa dengan perubahan-perubahan itu diharapkan dapat mengembangkan dan meningkatkan lembaga pendidikan, yang memerlukan usaha jangka pendek, menengah, dan panjang guna menghadapi perubahan yang akan terjadi pada masa mendatang. Peluang dan tangan pengembangan Pesantren di Luwu Utara,  terdapat Undang-undang Nomor 20 tahun 2003 tentang Sistem Pendidikan Nasional, yang beberapa pasalnya menekankan penyelenggaraan pendidikan keagamaan, seperti, pasal 30 ayat (1) dan Peraturan Pemerintah (PP) Nomor 55 Tahun 2007 tentang Pendidikan Agama dan Pendidikan Keagamaan pada pasal 1 ayat (2) tentang Pendidikan Agama dan Pendidikan Keagamaan yang didalamnya secara tegas dikemukakan bahwa pondok pesantren menyelenggarakan pendidikan diniyah pada tingkat dasar dan menengah, tergolong dalam sub sistem pendidikan Nasional di Indonesia yang bertujuan untuk mencerdaskan bangsa, menjadikan manusia yang beriman dan bertaqwa kepada Tuhan yang Maha Esa, berakhlak mulia, sehat, berilmu, cakap, kreatif, mandiri dan menajdi warga negara yang demokratis serta bertanggung jawab. Sedangkan tantangan ada beberapa hambatan 1)Sistem kurikulum yang lebih modern, sehingga pesantren ketinggalan jauh dari sekolah umum, 2) Kurangnya anggaran dan sumber pendanaan disebabkan oleh kurang siswa. 3) adanya sebagian orang tua tidak tertarik menyekolahkan anak di sekolah Pesantren.Kata kunci:      Pengembangan, Pondok Pesantren As’addiyah.  AbstractThe pattern of the development of Islamic boarding schools in Malangke, the strategy of developing pesantren is the method or strategy used by the place or place for the process of planning changes that require the support of all parties, among others, the Head, staff, teachers and students are expected to develop and improving educational institutions, which require short, medium and long-term efforts to deal with changes that will occur in the future. Opportunities and hands for the development of Islamic boarding schools in North Luwu, there is Law Number 20 of 2003 concerning the National Education System, some of which emphasize the implementation of religious education, such as article 30 paragraph (1) and Government Regulation (PP) Number 55 of 2007 concerning Education Religion and Religious Education in Article 1 paragraph (2) concerning Religious Education and Religious Education in which it is expressly stated that Islamic boarding schools conduct early childhood education at the elementary and secondary levels, belonging to the national education sub-system in Indonesia which aims to educate the nation, make humans who have faith and devotion to the Almighty God, are noble, healthy, knowledgeable, capable, creative, independent and become a democratic and responsible citizen. While the challenges are several obstacles 1) A more modern curriculum system, so that pesantren lag far behind public schools, 2) The lack of budgets and funding sources is caused by lack of students. 3) there are some parents who are not interested in sending their children to school in Islamic boarding schools.Keywords:        Development, As'addiyah Islamic Boarding School.

"You Can't Just Say That the Only Ones Who Can Speak Are Those Who Agree with Your Position": Political Discourse in the Classroom

1993 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Fine
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Social Differences ◽  
Classroom Dynamics ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
School Classroom ◽  
Teachers And Students

In this article, Melinda Fine describes the classroom dynamics surrounding the discussion of controversial issues in a middle school classroom. Through observation and interviews, she creates a detailed portrait of the interactions among teachers and students, revealing that while discussions of emotionally charged social and political issues are often heated and difficult, they can still be constructive. Fine maintains that students are more resilient and able to handle disagreement than is often believed. She concludes by arguing that education in a democracy requires that teachers and students learn to deal constructively with political and social differences.

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