•  
  •  
 

Keywords

argument, bias, connection, controversy, critical thinking, disagreement, discussion, empathy, mutual integrity, polygamy, respect, tolerance

Document Type

Article in Response to Controversy

Theme

Facilitating Discussions of Controversial Issues in Difficult Times

Abstract

Educators praise the benefits and virtues of teaching students how to discuss controversial topics with their peers with civility and respect. But in addition to developing these deliberative skills and intellectual dispositions, I suggest that a further goal of using controversial discussions as a pedagogy (CDAP) is to help students cultivate a respectful form of disagreement with others, openness to hearing opposing viewpoints, greater self-awareness of their own biases, and ultimately recognizing mutual integrity in everyone, including in those with whom they disagree.

In this paper, I first discuss why and then describe how I use CDAP in my classes in general. I then reflect upon my experience of using the legalization of polygamy, specifically, as a CDAP topic, whose ultimate goal was to help my students see how they shared the same biases that they had seen in their opponents, but had not yet seen in themselves, in order to cultivate empathy for those with whom they disagreed.

Genre/Form

article

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

Type

Text

Download

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS