The Problem
The proportion of young adults (ages 18 to 25) who claim they follow public affairs most of the time has fallen over the last four decades; by 2000, just five percent said that they regularly followed public affairs. Similarly, the percentage of incoming college freshmen who say that they discuss politics declined from over 30 percent in 1968-1970 to 16 percent in the late 1990s and 2000. Research shows that discussions of controversial or political topics can have a positive impact on student interest in politics and social issues. Yet in many schools, teachers fear criticism or even litigation if they address such topics.

The Recommendation
Promote Structured Engagement with Current and Controversial Issues in Illinois High Schools by:

• Endorsing the discussion of controversial issues in the classroom.
• Encouraging local school boards and schools to formulate clear guidelines for discussing controversial issues and to develop transparent procedures for addressing concerns expressed by all stakeholders.
• Providing professional development to help teachers better handle controversial issue discussions.

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