Prelims

Half Title Page

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING TEACHING IN SENSITIVE SUBJECT AND TOPIC AREAS

Title Page

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING TEACHING IN SENSITIVE SUBJECT AND TOPIC AREAS

A Comprehensive Guide for Professionals in FE and HE Settings

EDITED BY

WILLIAM McGOVERN

Northumbria University, UK

AIDAN GILLESPIE

Leeds Trinity University, UK

TOBY BRANDON

Northumbria University, UK

AND

ALISON MCINNES

Northumbria University, UK

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

First edition 2024

Editorial matter and selection © 2024 William McGovern, Aidan Gillespie, Toby Brandon, and Alison McInnes.

Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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Contact: www.copyright.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83753-127-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-126-4 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-128-8 (Epub)

Dedication Page

In loving memory of Kay Brown and Jo Cunningham, two inspirational Social Workers who sensitively championed Social Justice.

Alison

Contents

Foreword

The very nature of sensitive issues makes them challenging and anxiety provoking for academic staff to deliver. Few of us feel equipped to wrangle with the thorniest topics in public health, but doing so in a classroom can be even more confronting. We want to translate complex issues into accessible material for an increasingly diverse range of students, without losing the essence of the challenging human experiences those issues contain. ‘Key Concepts and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Subjects and Topics’ supports this journey by providing chapters exploring a wide range of commonly relevant themes.

A wide-ranging body of experienced authors bring their expertise to subjects like culture, colonialism, and faith. They acknowledge the complex experiences of substance use, poverty, homelessness, caring, and trauma with empathy and sensitivity. By exploring varied roles and identities through lived experience accounts, the text gives an active voice to populations that are often silenced. In addition to learning about the needs of the ‘other’ the authors challenge the reader to understand their own positionality, recognising the power inherent in being an educator.

This text has real-world applications for educators from a wide range of disciplines, delivering teaching for students at all levels. As society hardens its attitudes to some of the most disenfranchised people, facing the most challenging lives, it becomes increasingly important that we counter this by creating empathy and understanding in professional communities. ‘Key Concepts and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Subjects and Topics’ encourages and supports us to create meaningful spaces to explore issues safely, developing the necessary empathy to meet needs and allow all members of society to flourish and thrive.

Dr Claire Hart

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy

University of Northumbria at Newcastle