Abstract

This paper arises from the work of the Speak your Piece project established at the University of Ulster in 1995 on the premise that educators in Northern Ireland have a positive contribution to make in helping young people engage with controversial social, cultural, religious and political issues. It traces the origins of the project, examines its rationale and outlines the five strands of its work. Finally, it notes the implications of its work to date for the teaching of controversial issues in a contested society and indicates the contribution it might make to the likely emergence of a social, civic and political education programme in Northern Ireland as a consequence of the current curriculum review.