Teaching controversial issues as part of education for democratic intercultural Citizenship

Democracy implies that students have to learn to deal with controversial issues. For teachers, it is difficult to teach issues that are considered controversial in society, or by some participants in schools, like students, parents, other teachers and principals. It is particularly difficult when there are opposing groups and perspectives in the classroom itself. Controversial issues are at stake in many subjects, but especially in subjects, like history, social studies and religious studies. However, more technical subjects, like biology, are also
full of controversial issues. Addressing controversial issues, in a pedagogical setting, requires paying attention to different perspectives and their social, cultural and political foundations. Learning from different perspectives can be best developed if teachers use multiple perspectives with all kind of topics, as a regular way of learning and teaching. Such a pedagogical mode can train students to have open dialogues, before issues really become controversial, and are also useful in the midst of heated controversial debates.