Can teachers help kids exposed to trauma?
Research reveals that traumatic experiences disproportionately affect minority and low-income youth, including witnessing or being the target of violence. The ramifications of childhood trauma extend to their schooling in the form of poor grades, fighting, absenteeism, and behavioral withdrawal. Few career opportunities, broken relationships, and stress-related illness are what the future holds for many of these kids.
California's surgeon general is taking steps to educate school teachers on how to recognize and appropriately deal with these behaviors. Reprimands, suspensions, and other forms of discipline rarely have the intended impacts.
If teachers and school officials can appropriately address a student's behavior with compassion and understanding, the child may feel heard, valued, and cared about.
https://laist.com/news/health/californias-surgeon-general-wants-schools-...
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Sanatana
That's the goal. Children need help. Often the trauma is being perpetuated in their own homes.
Evangel
Poverty cripples families and brings out the worst in people. Pay people a living wage and make sure everyone has equal opportunities to advance and no one is left behind. Therapies alone won’t prevent the sins of the father from being visited upon the kids.
Slipstream
Teachers carry a heavy load. As pointed out in this article, student issues are often a reflection of their parents' issues. Admitting that students have been traumatized and developing training programs to assist teachers is a positive step, but as Evangel points out, poverty and unacceptable living conditions must be addressed to get to the root of the problem.