5.2.2.2. Topics Secondary School Teachers Do Not Deal with in their Classes

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The participating teachers were asked to list some topics they would not deal with in their classes under any circumstances by answering an open-ended question. Even though it was also a compulsory question, some participants opted out and left it blank. A fifth of the participants (n = 30) claimed that there are no taboos in their lessons and that they would be willing to talk about anything that comes up in their classes. Even if they stated that there are no topics they regard as taboos, some teachers added that they do not believe that every single topic belongs to EFL classes. As Respondent 139 put it, some topics should not be dealt with in “English classes where the atmosphere is generally joyful and where communication is encouraged”, and they would rather discuss heavier topics in Civilisation, History, Ethics, or the discussion classes with the headteacher. Respondent 134 also pointed at the fact that it is easier to discuss heavier topics in the discussion classes with the headteacher because, in this way, they can ask for help from experts and even invite them to their classes. Nevertheless, some teachers seemed very open towards any topic and in conclusion, Respondent 170 only asked the following question: “Why would there be any taboo topics?”

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

Most of the participants, however, did list taboos and their answers mostly coincided with the PARSNIP topics. Thirty-nine teachers mentioned that they would not deal with political matters in their classes: 4 teachers would not ask their students to talk about their political beliefs, 9 teachers would avoid discussions about party preferences, 16 teachers would not feel comfortable discussing current political issues in Hungary, and 10 would not discuss politics in their classes at all. Only four teachers stated that they would not discuss religious beliefs in their classes. The topic of sexuality also emerged as a common theme; 26 teachers referred to it in their answers. Nine teachers said that they would not talk about sex at all. Eighteen teachers alluded to the fact that anything to do with the LGBTQ community is a taboo in their classes and in some cases, they even expressed prejudices in their answers referring to the topic as “sexual aberrancies” (#54) and “identity disorders” (#27).

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

Other topics the participants included in their list of taboos included abuse, namely sexual abuse (n = 2), child abuse (n = 3), paedophilia (n = 1), and domestic violence (n = 2). Another emerging theme was mental health problems, such as psychological problems, e.g., depression (n = 2) and eating disorders, e.g., anorexia (2). Closely linked to this topic, suicide was also mentioned by two participants. Finally, personal matters emerged as a common theme, as five teachers claimed that they would not talk about their personal lives under any circumstances.

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

When identifying a topic as a taboo, it seems that teachers consider many factors. First, some teachers referred to current events in their answers, namely the endeavours of the Hungarian government to ban the topic of homosexuality in schools. As Respondent 147 put it, “according to the new law, the LGBTQ topic should be a taboo, right?”. Other respondents highlighted that usually it is not that they regard something as a taboo, but they do not feel prepared enough to tackle some issues in class, that is why they would not like them to crop up during the discussions. As Respondent 128 saw it, “it is not because they are taboos, but there are just some topics I would not feel comfortable with and I am not well-informed enough about (even if I do read up on them) to deal with them confidently in my lessons”. Another such factor turned out to be the group that they are teaching. In Respondent 108’s words, “there are some groups with whom I wouldn’t discuss some topics”.
 
Tartalomjegyzék navigate_next
Keresés a kiadványban navigate_next

A kereséshez, kérjük, lépj be!
Könyvjelzőim navigate_next
A könyvjelzők használatához
be kell jelentkezned.
Jegyzeteim navigate_next
Jegyzetek létrehozásához
be kell jelentkezned.
    Kiemeléseim navigate_next
    Mutasd a szövegben:
    Szűrés:

    Kiemelések létrehozásához
    MeRSZ+ előfizetés szükséges.
      Útmutató elindítása
      delete
      Kivonat
      fullscreenclose
      printsave