'Safe spaces' : reflections on an educational metaphor

This paper looks at a familiar, though largely undiscussed, figure of educational discourse- 'safe space'. Through an examination of four instances of usage, the paper shows 'safe space' tobe an emerging metaphor for classroom life. The metaphor offers a hopeful response to pervasive concerns about individual isolation in an increasingly stressful and pluralistic world, but it also unintentionally undermines critical thinking.