Teaching About Trauma

As we close out another week of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now confronted with the senseless deaths of three African-Americans: Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor. Riots have erupted. Activists are once again organizing public protests.

As we mourn their lives and try to make sense of America’s shortcomings, many of us are also questioning how we should present these events, and the history that fueled their occurrence, to our children. Gillis Education is specifically grappling with the following question: How do we boldly and accurately teach the traumatic history of African-Americans while inspiring the next generation to ambitiously explore the world and live freely in their own skin? How do we create space for our students to mourn, but celebrate the lives of their ancestors in a healthy way?

Recognizing that May is Mental Health Awareness Month, as we discussed in our last post, we must continue to check in with ourselves, our children, and our community. We need to allow ourselves time away from the news and media to reset, but it is critical that we educate our children on issues of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry so that they will be inspired to impact and contribute to the world in a positive and productive way. Our educators, consultants, curriculum team, and product development staff are mindful of this duty.

Do you have ideas about how current events such as these can be responsibly incorporated into lesson plans in a sensitive yet powerful way? Let’s continue the conversation. Reach out to us on social media or send an email to info@gilliseducation.org.