Political tensions and polarization are having a direct impact on our social studies classrooms. Having spent decades as a social studies educator, department chair, adjunct professor, instructional technology coach, building administrator, and district leader, I can confidently say that today’s conversation around social studies education and curriculum is in an especially challenging place.
Don’t get me wrong—controversy has always been part of social studies and history education. But right now, we’re navigating a particularly turbulent time. Despite these challenges, I believe we can work through this together. As social studies teachers, school and district leaders, curriculum providers, and more, we need to come together, support one another, and ensure we rebuild a balanced and civil approach to social studies and history education.
I’ve watched as state legislators increasingly dictate not only the content we teach but also how we teach it. Many social studies teachers now worry that presenting a topic the “wrong” way could lead to disciplinary action, fines, or even job loss—all depending on the political winds of local school boards, county pressures, or state education agencies.
Parents, too, are concerned—fearing that schools might indoctrinate their children with “the other side’s” political ideology, leading to conflicts between their worldviews and their children’s newly formed perspectives. At the same time, social media amplifies and curates politically charged content tailored to our beliefs, making it harder to engage with differing viewpoints or recognize the humanity in those who think differently.
We haven’t even begun to tackle divisive topics like which histories should be taught, how digital citizenship relates to civic responsibility, or the growing tension over who gets to be considered a “true” American. Meanwhile, influencers and media figures manipulate this tension for clicks, power, and financial gain, drowning out the measured voices of experts who have dedicated their lives to fostering a thoughtful, inclusive democracy.
Teachers need practical frameworks to navigate these challenges while upholding academic integrity and fostering critical thinking.
Why This Matters Now
Social studies teachers face unprecedented challenges:
- Political polarization shapes curriculum choices
- State laws restrict topic discussions
- Multiple perspectives demand balance with academic rigor
- AI tools both enhance and complicate teaching
These realities make structured approaches essential for teaching balanced history while promoting critical thinking and diverse perspectives. However, it is important to remind ourselves that our goal as social studies and history teachers is to teach students how to think, not what to think.
The C.O.R.E. and H.E.A.R.T. Frameworks
My thoughts and own conversations with other social studies educators and curriculum leaders across my state and around the country helped me develop two complementary frameworks that help teachers navigate these complex challenges: C.O.R.E. and H.E.A.R.T. Both can be used independently and can also complement each other if used together.
The acronyms also resonate with our humanity that reminds us of how we should treat others and ourselves. This means we share, converse, or discuss controversial topics from a standpoint of respecting human dignity and supporting others core identity and use our heart when we discuss, debate, and share with one another. This means we have to reteach civil discourse and mutual support and problem solving in productive and supportive conversations that affirm our mutual humanity. This takes commitment, practice, trust and support; which is something that we must build as educators and leaders.
C.O.R.E. Framework:
- Critical Thinking: Analyze multiple angles and challenge assumptions
- Openness: Embrace diverse perspectives and primary sources
- Respect: Lead respectful dialogue about opposing viewpoints
- Engagement: Explore controversial topics through interactive methods
H.E.A.R.T. Framework:
- Honesty: Examine historical events transparently
- Empathy: Value multiple perspectives and experiences
- Accountability: Balance academic integrity with new tools
- Responsibility: Use technology and sources ethically
- Thoughtfulness: Reflect on long-term implications
Protocols and Approaches to Facilitating Civil Discourse about Divisive Topics
Here are some helpful strategies that can help us practice having respectful civil dialogue in our social studies and history classrooms.
Structured Discussions:
- Require students to debate both sides of issues
- Lead “Close Up” deliberation exercises
- Build safe spaces for controversial discussions
Technology Integration:
- Generate diverse perspective prompts through AI
- Build historical simulations for perspective-taking
- Launch collaborative digital projects showcasing multiple viewpoints
Source Analysis:
- Guide students to evaluate AI-generated content
- Compare contrasting historical accounts
- Identify potential biases in primary sources
Leveraging AI for Balanced History Instruction
AI tools offer powerful ways to enhance balanced history teaching while supporting our C.O.R.E. and H.E.A.R.T. frameworks. Here’s how:
1. Generating Multiple Perspectives
AI can help create diverse viewpoints on historical events without targeting specific students or groups:
- Generate historical persona discussions from different time periods
- Create balanced debate prompts that examine multiple sides of issues
- Develop “what-if” scenarios for historical decision points
- Craft discussion starters that challenge common assumptions
2. Supporting Critical Analysis
AI assists in developing critical thinking skills:
- Compare different historical accounts of the same event
- Analyze potential biases in source materials
- Generate questions that probe deeper into historical contexts
- Create scaffolded analysis frameworks for primary sources
3. Facilitating Structured Discussions
AI can help structure balanced conversations:
- Create discussion protocols that ensure all perspectives get heard
- Generate role-play scenarios for historical debates
- Develop “devil’s advocate” positions to challenge assumptions
- Design structured academic controversy formats
4. Enhancing Source Evaluation
AI helps students develop digital literacy:
- Practice identifying AI-generated vs. human-written content
- Analyze potential biases in different source types
- Compare contemporary accounts with historical perspectives
- Evaluate the credibility of various information sources
5. Building Historical Empathy
AI can support perspective-taking:
- Create historical character profiles from different viewpoints
- Generate scenarios that explore historical decisions
- Develop “day in the life” experiences from various time periods
- Craft perspective-shifting exercises that build understanding
Best Practices for AI Integration
To maintain integrity while using AI:
- Always verify AI-generated content for accuracy
- Use AI as a tool for generating ideas, not final content
- Teach students to critically evaluate AI outputs
- Combine AI tools with traditional teaching methods
- Focus on using AI to promote discussion, not replace it
Remember: AI should support best pedagogical practices and critical thinking skills to help drive thoughtful instruction, not in place of it. Use it to spark discussions, generate ideas, and support critical thinking while maintaining focus on human interaction and genuine understanding.
Looking Forward
For some the C.O.R.E. and H.E.A.R.T. frameworks can provide solid foundations for balanced, thoughtful instruction in our polarized era. Others may find other ways to meet this instructional need. Whatever instructional decisions and practices we make, the goal should be to help us rise above polarizing politics and narratives to cultivate genuine understanding and critical thinking.
Social studies education thrives when we tackle controversial topics head-on, teaching students to engage thoughtfully and respectfully. By combining structured frameworks with emerging technologies, we create dynamic learning environments that champion understanding, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
Our role centers on equipping students with tools to think critically and engage respectfully with different perspectives—not telling them what to think about historical events and contemporary issues. This approach strengthens both their historical understanding and their preparation for thoughtful civic engagement in our complex world.
This is a reminder that I wrote this blog post, but I used ChatGPT 4o, Claude, and Gemini as part of the thinking and writing process. I write this to demonstrate the importance of being transparent when leveraging AI tools in writing and communication
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Micah J. Miner is the Director of Technology at Beach Park District 3, bringing over 20 years of experience as an educational leader, social studies department chair, faculty member, and technology advocate. An accomplished author with Times 10 Publications, Micah’s recent work, AI Goes to School, explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education. As a consultant, Ryze AI advisor, ISTE Community Leader, and CoSN/IETL member, he is passionate about advancing educational equity through tech integration. A founding member of the Human Intelligence Movement and co-host of an educational podcast, Micah empowers educators and districts with innovative strategies for student success. For more details, visit micahminer.com.