ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that engaging with controversial and sensitive issues in History is important in developing students' engagement with, knowledge of and critical thought about the past. It describes controversial and sensitive issues in History and establishes the rationale for delivering lessons about these issues. The chapter identifies some of the challenges and issues related to delivering History lessons on sensitive topics and make several suggestions about how to approach those challenges. Teaching controversial and sensitive History can present a range of challenges; the chapter outlines some of these challenges with suggested approaches for tackling them. Making the past resonate with students is essential. Teachers must not make assumptions about students' interest in controversial or sensitive historical issues. The challenge for History departments is to make decisions about which second-order concepts and substantive content to include in schemes of work about controversial and sensitive history.
