NCCRESt

part of the Education Reform Networks

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Controversial Issues (Course Content)

• Breaking the Silence: The Stories of Gay and Lesbian People in Children's Literature
  Discusses how for gay or lesbian youth, the issues of identity and acceptance that are ignored both in life and in literature are not only profound but also dangerous. Notes that books that include gay or lesbian characters usually elicit a strong negative reaction to their content by vocal conservative groups.
• Conflict in Multiculturalism Classes: Too Much Heat or Too Little?
  The issues that arise in a college course on multiculturalism can touch students very personally and may be a first opportunity for many students to talk face-to-face about important social issues. Anticipating when students may become defensive, angry, hurt, or when conflict might erupt will help faculty know when to lower or raise the temperature in the classroom.
• Incorporating Components of American Pluralism into a Course on the Geography of the USA
  Outlines some of the pedagogical and organizational concerns encountered in transforming a traditional college-level U.S. geography course into a course emphasizing pluralism and diversity issues.
• The One-Minute Paper: Enhancing Discussion in a Multicultural Seminar
  The teacher of a college seminar on education in contemporary American society, addressing sensitive personal and political concepts, used one-minute essays to "take the pulse" of the class daily. Daily summaries of essay content provided students with evidence of the teacher's commitment to monitoring the process, added a level of discourse, and provided feedback about individual and collective direction.