Sometimes it’s nice to imagine a world where everyone sees eye-to-eye on the most important issues. Right would be clearly distinguished from wrong, truth from fiction, and disagreements would be easily and smoothly resolved without hard feelings.
We live in the real world, and that’s (mostly) a good thing. While political polarization is rising to an unprecedented degree, no truly democratic society sees homogenous consensus across the board. This naturally leads to difficult discussions that can become emotional or tense, especially given the current divisions in our society. But viewed through the right lens, these moments of discord and tension can be an opportunity for us all to prioritize the skills needed to be active participants in our diverse and pluralistic democracy—one where we must work to build strong communities across our many differences.
As some of the most politically and culturally diverse places in our communities, schools are the ideal place for young people to develop their sense of civic responsibility and ability to communicate with civility and respect. As educators look to bring conversations about current events into their classrooms—conversations that can easily turn contentious—they’re looking to school and district leaders like you for guidance, training, and support. It’s up to you to create a whole-school culture that values civil discourse and prepares students to engage with the world using intellectual curiosity, dignity, and thoughtfulness.
With this in mind—and with Facing History’s mission, approach, and robust scholarship at the forefront—we’ve created a Facilitating Difficult Conversations In Schools white paper to help educational leaders navigate conversations on polarizing topics with empathy, self-awareness, and critical thinking. Adapted from our popular Fostering Civil Discourse classroom guide, this new resource is intended to help leaders leverage their unique positionality to promote a culture of healthy, respectful, and productive discourse in their school communities.
In this white paper, you’ll learn to differentiate between civil discourse and debate in order to build shared understanding and communicate more effectively. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll then discover actionable tools to equip your staff with a school-wide approach to civil discourse while refining your conversation skills to have the difficult conversations that we know are so important to bridging difference, forming connections, and fostering a more empathetic and inclusive society. We know that building a positive school climate creates students who are more likely to succeed academically and less likely to engage in bullying. But when their educational environment empowers students and teachers alike to actually work through tough moments and consider vital questions rather than brushing them under the rug, research shows that young people gain a newfound understanding of the role they play in a functioning democracy. This means that they are more likely to vote, participate politically, and engage in civic-minded behavior.
We welcome school and district leaders to see Facing History & Ourselves as a true partner when it comes to creating an academic space of belonging that emphasizes respectful dialogue and civic engagement.With so much on the line, it’s paramount that the next generation learns the skills and develops the right mindset to be empathetic and reflective members of our democratic society.
To download this white paper and take the first steps towards making your school or district the kind of place where students and teachers feel empowered to have productive conversations about polarizing topics, all you have to do is click through and sign up for a free Facing History account. We can't wait to hear what you think!
