Whitewashing trauma: applying neoliberalism, governmentality, and whiteness theory to trauma training for teachers. Issue 2 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mayor, Christine
• Is Part Of: Whiteness and education. Volume 3:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Neoliberalism -- whiteness -- governmentality -- trauma-informed schools -- grit; Racism in education -- Periodicals; White people -- Education -- Periodicals; White people -- Race identity -- Periodicals; Multicultural education -- Periodicals; 371.829
• DOI: 10.1080/23793406.2019.1573643
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2379-3406

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Discussions about trauma-informed schools have rapidly increased in North America, yet there is a dearth of literature on the role of the teacher in these interventions. Studies largely fail to address the needs of racialized and lower SES students who are disproportionately more likely to experience single event and chronic trauma events, but are regularly punished or ignored by the school system. This article suggests the existing literature gaps are symptomatic of the forces of whiteness, neoliberalism and governmentality on teachers and schools. This article examines how these forces determine: how trauma is defined, the construction of the competent teacher, the surveillance of the home through teacher mandated reporting, the impact of 'no excuses' pedagogy and zero tolerance discipline practices, and the problematic impact of 'resilience' and 'grit' talk. The article ends with implications for further research, training, and practices that might better support students who have experienced trauma .