Synthesis Theme 3b: What Should Schools Teach? - "Controversial" Curriculum

While I realize there is a difference between book selection and book banning to me they are one in the same.  If you do not include the book in the options that is the same thing as saying you are not allowed to read it.  But this theme goes beyond book banning.  Book banning is just one price and what good does book banning really do with things like Kindles and iBooks students have access to those books in more than just the school library.  What we actually see in schools in controversial curriculum and material (books and otherwise) not being included in the curriculum and why is that? As our professor pointed out in her comment to me is this an issue where teachers are not trusted to talk with students about controversial issues and if they are not, why is it they are not trusted?  The role of the teacher is/has drastically changed and we need to stop being thought of as people who disseminate information as information is available everywhere they don’t need to get it from me or any teacher.  We have to teach students to think critically and maneuver the oceans of information available to them and some of that will be controversially.  So if the reason teachers are not allowed to include controversial material is because they are not trusted, how do we become trusted professionals to include this material in our courses?  Maybe this is an area where professional development needs to be included on how to engage students with this material, monitor their discussions and engage students while remaining impartial.  When I engage students in debates about Stem Cell research we have to talk about embryos and the point at which they become life.  The topic can be very controversial and some students will have very strong feelings.  It is my job to ask questions and let them formulate their own opinions and teach them to talk respectfully about their opinions maybe if we trained more teachers to handle these conversations others would be more open to including them in the curriculum.