ABSTRACT
Evolution. Human origins. Race. Gender. Religion. Sex. Sexuality. Just the thought of addressing these topics in a social studies class unnerves most new teachers and even many experienced teachers. What is safe to say? How will students, parents, administrators, and local officials respond? On the other hand, these are exactly the topics that generate student interest and excitement about studying history. I was interested in them when I was in high school, certainly more interested in them than in anything taught in school, and I bet you were also. Today, with the availability of the Internet, the real question is whether students will discuss these topics in class with teachers in thoughtful ways, or find questionable information on their own that they will circulate surreptitiously among themselves.
