Recent scholarship on civic education has introduced some useful ways to engage students in learning about controversial topics, debating them, and participating in democratic life. However, while those are valuable tools for active citizenship, they're not sufficient. Democratic education should focus on issues that matter intensely to students'…

The Critical Issues Investigation combines experiential education philosophy with service-learning methods to situate a section of a course in both personal and professional development utilizing active and engaged citizenship for college age students. Through the use of the National Issues Forum materials, critical issues facing a variety of…

One of a series of bulletins designed to aid social studies teachers, this issue serves as a guide in handling controversial issues in the classroom. The need for a policy statement from the local board of education is noted as the first step in allowing the free exchange of ideas. Considerations in deciding to study an issue are suggested:…