Hand, Michael (2007) Should we teach homosexuality as a controversial issue? Theory and Research in Education, 5 (1). pp. 69-86. ISSN 1477-8785 (print); 1741-3192 (electronic)
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Abstract
Philosophers of education disagree on how the question of the moral status of homosexual acts should be tackled in the classroom. Some argue that the question should be taught as a controversial issue, that we should present rival moral positions as even-handedly as possible; others maintain that we should actively promote the view that homosexual acts are morally legitimate or unproblematic. Here I attempt to resolve this disagreement. In the first part of the paper I defend the use of Robert Dearden’s epistemic criterion for identifying the questions that should be taught as controversial issues. In the second part I argue that the question of the moral status of homosexual acts does not satisfy this criterion because moral objections to homosexuality are rationally indefensible. I conclude that we ought to affirm the moral legitimacy of homosexual acts in the moral education of children and young people.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Additional Information: | Copyright © 2007 by SAGE Publications |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Philosophy of education Sexuality (Sexual orientation) |
| Subjects: | Departments > Education Foundations and Policy Studies |
| Depositing User: | IOE Repository Editor (1) |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Feb 2010 11:48 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jun 2012 22:25 |
| URI: | http://eprints.ioe.ac.uk/id/eprint/1072 |
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