Book Review: Review of the Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education

Abstract

This article reviews Diana E. Hess and Paula McAvoy's book The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education (2015). The book examines the current political climate of party polarization, consequent effect on teacher's use of controversial issue discussion in the classroom, and the benefits to a democratic society of holding discussions in class. Hess and McAvoy (2015) present three case studies of teachers struggles and successes in using controversial issues in the classroom, and offer a framework for practicing teachers to use in choosing topics for classroom discussion. The book offers researcher's new avenues of research, practicing teacher's an outline for discussion, and provides a comprehensive summary illustrating how controversial issue discussion can assist with the democratic education of secondary students.An enduring goal of the educational system concerns the transferring of a nation's values to a younger generation, the socialization of youth both politically and socially. Over four years, Diana Hess and Paula McAvoy conducted a longitudinal mixed mode study focused on controversial discussion in the classroom and sought to answer two principal questions "(1) What did students experience and learn from these discussions? and (2) What effect do classrooms that engage young people in discussion of political controversy have on students' future political engagement and attitudes?" (Hess & McAvoy, 2015, p. 9). In The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education, Hess and McAvoy investigate the political climate of America during their study, review three case studies intended to illuminate teacher practice, and develop a framework for teachers to evaluate the ethics of controversial discussion within secondary classrooms. Both the study and the resulting book illuminate the difficulties teachers face when teaching divisive topics in our currently polarized political environment.Oftentimes, controversial issues address politically sensitive topics, such as race and culture, social class, religion, and the relationship of privilege to power (Hess & Gatti, 2010). Although the topics may be sensitive to individuals, political discussion is necessary for the workings of a successful democratic society (Hess, 2004). Social science education research has shown some of the difficulties teachers face when instituting controversial topic discussion in the classroom. Teachers fear that discussion can impact their career or that classroom management will suffer (Allen, 2010;Parker & Hess, 2001;Washington & Humphries, 2011). This divide between the necessity of classroom discussion and teachers' preference to avoid controversy creates opportunity for the disaffection of marginalized groups (Tamir, 2015).This book, The Political Classroom: Evidence and Ethics in Democratic Education furthers the research into controversial issue discussion by creating a framework for teachers to use in the classroom, and focusing on how students' experiences influence their political viewpoint...