Tagged With "equity"
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An Epic Battle for Public Education: A Front Line View
As one single example of one key complexity (there are many others), children in our Public School classrooms have massive rates of trauma, described by a U.S. Department of Justice report as an “epidemic” and by past Surgeon Generals as “national crisis.”
The Center for Disease Control(CDC) says it is critical to understan
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Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
© Elliot Gilfix/Flickr . What happened to Jasmine? . Photo © Jinx!/Flickr When you look inside a...
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Peek Inside a Classroom: Danny
When you look inside a classroom, there are some things you can not see . . .
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Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Wiry, active, savvy. Jasmine. There were not many good days. . . only random moments of calm in a violent storm, erupting on a ‘hair trigger’
When you look inside a classroom there are some things you can not see….
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Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Photo credit Max Klingensmith at flickr . Jose was one of the calmest, quietest, most peaceful boys in the classroom. The kind of boy everybody loves. ...
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PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, EDUCATION COMMITEE: STANDARDIZED TESTING HEARING: TESTIMONY NOTES
"We won’t have a successful education paradigm, or even accurately interpret academic success, while ignoring trauma’s overwhelming presence." ...
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Defending Childhood
Common Sense Millions of injured children whose pleas are not being heard are waiting at the intersection of the “Defending Childhood” Report from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Congress’s rewrite...
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During COVID-19, how does a trauma-informed school pivot to distance learning?
Antioch Middle School seventh-grader Alyssia Garcia was accustomed to scanning the cafeteria during lunch for kids who might need her assistance. “I’d look for kids who looked sad, kids who were sitting alone, kids who looked angry,” says Garcia, a peer advocate at her school. Alyssia Garcia When she’d spot students sitting alone or looking sad, she’d approach them and ease into conversation. “If it’s a sad person, I’ll try to cheer them up or ask them what the problem is,” she says. “If...
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Nowhere to Hide: The Elephant in the [Class]room
We are trying to scoop water out of a boat which has gaping trauma-holes in the bottom.
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Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
Developmental trauma changes the architecture of the physical brain, ability to learn and social behavior. It impacts two out of three children, but I didn’t even know what it was…
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Be part of a breathtaking tipping point !
. Education Equity for trauma-impacted children: from failing funding to fair funding. Be part of the solution! Background A heartfelt tip of the hat to the Basic Education Funding Commission...
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LucidWitness: Increasing Public-Awareness of Developmental Trauma
LucidWitness blogposts are designed for social media to help grow awareness of developmental trauma among your network(s).
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Re: Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
This is awesome information, Daun!! I especially like the part where you explain why teachers cannot become trauma-informed on their own. I'm reposting for ATN. Melissa
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Re: Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
Congratulations on an impressively well-organized and comprehensive presentation of a large mass of useful information! This might make a good DVD for widespread distribution.
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Re: Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
Outstanding article Daun, and great timing with school around the corner.
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Re: Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
Dr. Felitti, Thank you so much for your kind words and your suggestion. I am very honored and the DVD idea is quite intriguing! Daun Kauffman
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Re: Nowhere to Hide the Elephant in the [Class]room
Thanks so much Jim! I appreciate all your support. Take care of those beautiful grandchildren :-)
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Re: LucidWitness: Increasing Public-Awareness of Developmental Trauma
This index is phenomenal Daun! Thank you for your continued commitment to and passion for creating trauma-informed schools and being part of the solution in spite of, or perhaps because of, the very hard work you do every day!
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Re: LucidWitness: Increasing Public-Awareness of Developmental Trauma
Wow! Thanks so much Leslie!
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Great article, Daun. You have wonderful insight. I wish you well in sharing it out with the education world. I've recently posted information on a free video Trauma Training for Educators - that highlights many of these same points regarding children and trauma. If you're interested in seeing it - www.ciscentraltexas.org/resources/traumatraining/ Best of luck to you, Kris
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Re: Be part of a breathtaking tipping point !
Duan In case you were not aware the national education association is supporting teachers who have traumatized students in their classrooms. So you have union support for trauma informed education. See the article at Best practices for supporting and educating students who have experienced domestic violence or sexual victimization. http://www.nea.org/home/62845.htm
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
This is an excellent piece!!! Educators need to ask "What's happened to this child?" rather than "What's wrong with this child?" when confronted with inappropriate or acting out behaviors. Children come to school each day and give the best they have, even if that best includes ripping up paper and kicking and screaming. Teachers and administrators need to provide effective and appropriate opportunities for children with trauma to release their pent up frustration. They need to keep these...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thank you so much Melissa ! Thank you for your passion, your insight and your support.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Daun - THANK YOU! This is incredibly real and pertinent storytelling of what traumatized children can look like in our schools and how they can be misunderstood. I'm sharing with everyone I know here in Georgia is is advocating for changes based on the DOJ's findings of illegally segregating facilities, called GNETS, for children with emotional disturbances. A disproportionate number of these children are foster/adopt (hugely at risk of trauma) and who knows about the rest -- high levels of...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thank you Julie, I am so thankful. I'm also a little overwhelmed. Thank you so much for all you are doing in Georgia ! On a "higher order" note, some of it seems like " Common Sense " at the national level, if you are so inclined to rattle cages about ESEA and NoChildLeft Behind. (An earlier blog at LucidWitness.com) Peace
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thanks Daun I love this non-fictional piece. What is so hard for me is that what is so obvious to me like gravity or the sky is blue is so not obvious to others. I cannot wait for the critical mass to move us all to where we understand, are compassionate and move society to health so all kids have a chance. I read the Compton lawsuit and I just keep shaking my head... I'd never try to get that dropped, I'd move to action to help those kids... Keep writing... I'll keep tweeting and sharing...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I was riveted by this post, Daun. You write so well and with so much passion and knowledge. Thank you for sharing this. I am forwarding immediately to our trauma-informed schools team.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Wow ! Thank you so much Louise for your support, encouragement and your kind words. The 'partner' piece is on ACEsConnection and at my blog, LucidWitness.com : "Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine". That piece primarily highlights hyperarousal and hyper-vigilance. Daun
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I will certainly take a look at that. I'm wondering if you are considering coming to our conference in March?http://www.echoparenting.org/professional-services/conferences It's a national forum on trauma-informed schools and we were hoping that we could form some 'learning circles'. We have lots of experts who have applied to do workshops (people who usually train in this stuff) but we were also looking for practitioners to lead a circle to discuss challenges, best practices, etc. with no...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
PS: Louise Is the "Trauma-Informed Schools Team" part of LAUSD ?
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
We are working with LAUSD - pilot project in Sally Ride Elementary and training all 300 Psychiatric Social Workers in School Mental Health - but we are an independent nonprofit. Echo Parenting & Education http://www.echoparenting.org/wsi
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
PPSS Louise, 1) Hmmm, well I am very honored by your invitation to the conferrence. It MAY be possible. The issue will be taking time away during the school year. However, my son is out there and it'd be great to incorporate some time with him .... Thinking (when would you need to know ?) 2) Wouild it be possible to post "Peek Inside" to your Facebook page? Daun daunkauffman@gmail.com
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
What a good idea! We can indeed do that. Deadline for workshop applications has already gone (we are sending them to our illustrious Advisory Committee to select our line-up). Why don't you think about it and then let us know if it's a possibility. We could work something out... a break out room, or something.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Daun, I truly appreciated your blog - the depth of understanding and development of the reality of trauma inside our schools! I'm putting together a packet for my own public school system's Board of Education (3 members) whom I will meet with in November. I think this is a powerful example of what we need to see, and how we can help. Thank you so much. Brenda Gregory Yuen North Potomac, MD
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I am so thrilled (and astonished) to see advocacy efforts move forward. I always wonder what happens to pieces (and their suggestions), once thery are 'released' into cyberspace. Thank you so much for the feedback, and for your work, Brenda!
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
We shared your blog on our Facebook page: Echo Parenting & Education. Lou
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Louise, don't forget that "Peek Inside" is a two part series. "Jose" illustrates dissociation. The other part "Jasmine" illustrates hyperarousal / hypervigilance. Here http://lucidwitness.com/2015/0...-inside-a-classroom/
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Re: An Epic Battle for Public Education: A Front Line View
Powerful...in Canada...certainly British Columbia...a similar movement is at work in the political sphere it would seem. Wrote about the lack of regulation and the support of operating like a "business" in private schools in BC. For those interested see http://www.amazon.com/Teaching...ssroom/dp/0994082029
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What's Missing ?
What's Missing ? "Education Reform" is primarily a systemic concept, oblivious to children, and treading on justice issues. http:// lucidwitness.com/2014/09/25/wha ts-missing-3/
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom
Thanks for this post Sandy and Daun! To say it is urgent we transform our schools and communities is by far the key priority facing educators and public health officials today! There remains minimal benefit from common core and standardized testing if we cannot help children (and staff) learn emotion regulation and so so post haste! I couldn't agree more with your post. As a team member who has co-authored and worked with Sandy Bloom, Sarah Yanosy and a few others on some of Sanctuary's most...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom
Considering the recent suicide by hanging of a 13 year old boy in Staten Island, Danny Fitzpatrick, I believe we must intensify the above. We must discuss that sometimes teachers, coaches, school administrators are the ones causing trauma in children and they are not remotely safe people to "listen" to or protect a child. We have to take a hard, honest look at Bullying in schools, which continues to rise, and ask the question: hate is a learned behaviour...so who is teaching bullying? We...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom
Jennifer, the issue needs to be explicitly, directly addressed. I agree. I'm not sure if "carrot" or "stick" is best, maybe combination... Thanks for sharing, and for your passion!
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom
Hi Daun, I think combo of carrot and stick, but as we've discovered, carrot won't work until stick is brandished. As soon as we attach serious consequences to emotional abuse, adults who bully kids, then everyone will get educated fast. When we wanted to stop people smoking and harming others with second hand smoke, we quickly implemented laws that fined people and threatened jail. Everyone is now well educated about the harms of smoking and second-hand smoke. If suicide was the second...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom
Hey Jennifer, I have the same request for advice with politicians. In the case of developmental trauma at our city and our state levels, the first goal is simply "awareness". Even with me as an example, I had to dig around and dig around to eventually put pieces together to begin to grasp the portion of the concept that I know have. Maybe I should expand that slightly to be "accurate" awareness. At any rate, folks should not have to dig around that hard to get informed. After "awareness"...
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Re-Opening Schools Experts (ROSE) Task Force
Excerpt: "In the end, it will not be enough that adult experts declare schools “safe”. In the final, trauma-informed analysis, each child in their own body, brainstem, limbic system and HPA axis, must feel safe. They must be part of the task force. If the children don’t feel safe, it is all for naught."
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Creating Equity and Acceptance in Schools
Becoming Trauma Informed is about changing ourselves and the environment to foster trauma resilience in those we come in contact with. If schools are using Social Emotional Learning curriculum (SEL) only as an add-on program to implement, then it isn’t about the teachers and environment changing, it is merely about changing the behavior of students. If we are solely trying to change others to make them conform to pre-set standards, it is continuing the oppressive cycle. Command and control...
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Why Equity Matters in Trauma Sensitive School Work
Trauma Sensitive School practice has gained momentum in the last several years, inspiring changes in educator perspective, administrative policy, and classroom practice. I am often inspired by efforts to understand student challenges in new ways and use innovative strategies. What can give me pause is when this work is applied to institutions or systems where structural bias and inequity are not acknowledged or confronted. In this case, sometimes labels like “trauma kids” or “high-trauma...