Return-Path: <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id gBHHASX28210; Tue, 17 Dec 2002 12:10:28 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 12:10:28 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <a05010403ba2505af40ea@[10.3.3.130]> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Anne Murr <anne.murr@DRAKE.EDU> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-fobasics@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FOBASICS:630] Response to "Trauma and Adult Learning" X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii Status: O Content-Length: 1351 Lines: 31 Another prevalent trauma for adults in basic education classes is the emotional abuse they suffered in school because of their learning difficulties. These memories cause blocks to learning in their present setting. I'm angry because it's not their fault that they didn't learn. They simply were not taught in a way in which they could (and can now) learn. There is injustice in their experiences. Their traumas include being made fun of, being required to read aloud and feeling that they made fools of themselves, being made to feel it's their fault for not learning, being told is so many different ways that they are stupid, suffering the anger of the frustrated teacher, suffering abuse from frustrated parent, etc, etc. You've heard the stories too. The result is a litany of negative messages which must be "reprogrammed" before learning in the present can occur. Laura Weisel calls emotions the prerequisite for learning. As educators, we are not therapists, but we can help our students "reprogram" with positive messages as simple as "I can learn, I am learning, I will do my best now." What other ways do you address this issue? -- Anne Murr, Coordinator Adult Literacy Center School of Education Drake University 3206 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311 anne.murr@drake.edu Tel 515-271-3982 Fax 515-271-4544
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