http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/help.html
The following suggestions are offered in terms of their relative usefulness in discussing trauma and learning
to avoid | more helpful things to do |
don't address violence without reliable resources / referrals
[need for research] |
find reliable counseling referrals prior to addressing
violence
[investigate possibilities, invite speakers] build connections/relationships with community providers |
avoid 'knowing it all,'
don't assume someone else can or should do what you might do |
listen well |
avoid 'doing for' | work with learners to develop advocacy skills |
don't require people to share | work with people to create safe spaces / ground rules for those who wish to share |
teachers are not counselors; don't take on a counseling role | provide good referral information as appropriate |
avoid judgements; don't blame the victim | respect others' rights to make their own decisions, while providing information/increasing awareness about options |
avoid simplistic answers | be realistic about difficulties and possibilities (hopeful survival stories) |
don't store journals where others might read them | respect privacy; |
messages that blame or discourage victims |
important messages to receive |
Did you try to stop the abuse?
What did you do to provoke it? |
I believe you
It's not your fault |
Why don't you just leave? | I'm interested in hearing more. |
That happened a while ago, why are you still talking about it? | How can we make our classroom feel safe? |
Can't you just forget about it? You need to get on with your life. | I'm interested in helping you understand how your experiences affect your learning |
back to on the screen
[31 march/2006]