Emily's Question

Emily's Question: Where do we draw the line between morality that should be taught in schools and morality that is too controversial?

In developmental psychology, we are currently discussing the development of morality in both behavior and reasoning. Most controversial issues that are avoided in class are uncomfortable to talk about because they deal with the behavior aspect of morality. For example, to lead a discussion about abortion in a classroom, the issue of morality would be evaluated based on whether or not someone would have an abortion or would not. In this case, the opinions of the teacher and the students offer controversial biases that many parents would not like their children exposed to.
If such topics are considered in terms of the reasoning that leads to moral decisions, then educators are able to teach moral reasoning, rather than what they consider "right" and "wrong" behavior. Students will gain more from learning about reasoning because they will have mastered a tool they can apply to many dilemmas, rather than just which behavior is correct in a singular specific situation.

Do you think controversial topics should be discussed in the classroom at all, or should they be left for students to discuss in the privacy of their own homes?