There is a long history of PTSD in our society but only recently have we begun to understand the impact of trauma and how it effects children and adults. One part of the reading that resonated with me was the tendency for family members to overcompensate or enable people with PTSD by treating them as if they are disabled. I think this plays out in the classroom when teachers have lower expectations for students because they are aware of a student's PTSD or traumatic experiences. While it is important to have compassion and to create environments where students from all backgrounds and experiences can feel safe and nurtured, it is also important to maintain high expectations for students, to communicate them clearly, and to show students that they are capable of great things. This is part of the healing process for students whose education has been disrupted by trauma in their lives.
