By Abigail Kim 

The saying “keep up with the times,” is fitting and applicable now more than ever. In an ever-changing and evolving world, education must evolve simultaneously in order to stay both relevant and impactful. Incorporating contemporary issues into the modern-day classroom and curriculum is essential when it comes to fostering critical thinking skills, engagement, and empathy among students. Integrating real-world topics into classroom discussions will help educators create a learning environment that is not only meaningful, but also applicable to students’ lives. 

A significant benefit of embedding contemporary issues within education is increased student engagement and interest. 

“When students see relevancy, it piques interest and investment because the relevancy applies to them through different lenses,” English teacher Kani Kim said. “When students can relate to these issues and learn various perspectives, it teaches understanding through the different stories we study.”

If students are able to see the direct connection between what they learn and the world around them, they are more likely to become invested in their learning. By engaging students in modern literature and current world events, teachers will be able to capture students’ attention more easily, and encourage deeper engagement and analysis. Lessons that feel more relevant will motivate students to actively participate within their class and think critically about the subjects that they are learning. 

Teaching contemporary issues will also help students to develop empathy, as it exposes them to diverse perspectives and experiences in the modern world. 

“I think it’s incredibly important to include contemporary issues,” English teacher Shayna Arhanian said. “Anything we can do as educators to inform our students about real world issues and increase engagement and empathy is something to strive for.”

If students actively engage in discussions like social justice, climate change, political movements, and technological advancements, they can learn to appreciate different viewpoints, and gain a better understanding of the breadth of global and local issues. This helps to foster a greater sense of responsibility and awareness among students, preparing them to become more informed and compassionate.  

Currently, many teachers are integrating contemporary teaching into their curriculum. For example, English and Theory of Knowledge teacher Christina Hoppe has talked about the traditional wife trend online and how certain people use the trend as a platform to promote their capitalist agendas to sell their products. She emphasizes how the media industry has shifted to the idea of promoting products utilizing modern trends. Additionally, math teacher Anaïs Arteaga includes daily activities such as math in the media in which she displays modern day mathematicians and the cool things that they do with their math degrees. For example, calculating the best couch shape to get it around a hall corner. 

Though the benefits of incorporating contemporary teaching are clear, there are some challenges that educators face. 

“Honestly, I think a challenging part of our jobs as educators is remaining objective and unbiased, especially when we are discussing a topic with a direct impact on students,” Arhanian said.

Teachers must ensure that they create a safe and respectful environment in which students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. When dealing with relevant issues, controversial topics are bound to come up. Thus, it’s important that schools handle these issues delicately and strive to avoid bias whilst encouraging meaningful discussion. 

Ultimately, incorporating contemporary issues within teaching is not only beneficial but essential. It fosters critical thinking, cultivates empathy, and helps students to become more informed, compassionate, and engaged citizens. A changing world requires a flexible approach to education to ensure that students are equipped to face challenges and opportunities in the future. Education shouldn’t just be centered around textbooks and standardized tests, but instead, it should provide students with the necessary tools they need to understand, navigate, and improve the world that they live in.