the fear of litigation and the desire to maintain a closed and safe world as much as possible. Similarly, a student noted that from their observation teachers were more comfortable not tackling controversial issues and, therefore, the pupils were less used to engaging in discussion. This student had worked in an eco-friendly school where the pupils insisted on recycling, but could not write about it or explain why. One child asked, ‘What is an opinion?’. Another tutor pointed out that teaching controversial issues challenges fundamentally held beliefs so there is cultural and religious resistance and teachers feel uncomfortable and prefer a more ‘factual’ approach. One student, for example, said: