Iran war and other tough topics give K-12 teachers chance to teach students how, not what, to think

A Penn State training program helps K-12 teachers learn how to give students the confidence to ask questions and understand various perspectives about complex topics.

By: Boaz Dvir, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 14, 2026

Words: 1,102

Last Updated: 4 months, 3 weeks ago

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By Boaz Dvir, Penn State

It’s a scene that’s played out in K-12 schools around the country in recent years. Unprompted, a student expresses her thoughts or feelings about a difficult issue, such as the Iran war. A murmur spreads through the classroom. Other students prepare to jump into a heated discussion. But the teacher nips the conversation in the bud, redirecting everyone’s attention to the lesson of the day.

This approach, while perhaps well-meaning, …

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