The main concept of the master's thesis focuses on finding out how can teachers of history approach to teaching sensitive issues in elementary schools. In the theoretical part of the project we have found out that there is no precise definition in Slovenian or any other areas that would answer the question of what sensitive topics in history are.
Teaching sensitive issues is supposed to be the key to understanding the world where the pupil live, therefore, in and of itself, it is an important educational goal in teaching history. All the teachers should strive to achieve this goal. The thesis describes the examples of sensitive issues in history teaching in Slovenia (the issue of home guard, the children in the Second World War, the Holocaust in Slovenia) and two examples for history teaching in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland and the Holocaust).
There are declarations, guidelines and recommendations for teaching and learning about the Holocaust, but there is no definition of sensitive topics, and there is no concrete way to teach effectivelly about sensitive topics except the Holocaust.
In this survey the results of semi-structured interviews with history teachers and the ninth-grade students in four different elementary schools in Slovenia reveal their opinions about sensitive issues. The master's thesis proves that teaching sensitive issues is a topical and interesting theme in Slovenia, because the topics even now devide Slovenian nation into two different poles.
But above all it is important that teachers thoughtfully present sensitive topics in history using the textbook material in order to encourage students to think critically about historical facts, events and sources.
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