School Trauma

Parents, Pre K - 12 Teachers April 30, 2018

The Infrastructure of Trauma-Informed Schools Requires a Human Scaffold

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) released a viral video called “I am a teacher and you want to arm me?” in which the teacher’s union calls for more school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses – rather than arming educators – to meet the needs of students and schools. Support personnel-student ratios were the subject of a Washington Post article calling these professionals “part of the human scaffolding constructed around students to help them do their best in school.”

A highschool student standing in the hall. Long exposure with motion blur.

Pre K - 12 Teachers April 9, 2018

Psychology and Trauma in Schools: How Can Teachers Help?

Teachers know first-hand how trauma can make learning nearly impossible for a student and they’ve seen how it has become increasingly more common among school-aged American students. As school shootings and gun violence have captured the attention of many, there’s a more significant problem lurking in the classroom. It’s the student chronically exposed to trauma, and it’s often masked by stigma and shame.

Consider this, “On average, only 25 percent of children with mental health needs receive services. Of those receiving care, 70—80 percent receive that care in a school setting.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Psychology also shows us that most humans are resilient in the face of trauma and students can flourish with the right support.

But how can teachers help?