Source: NPR
Schools in New Orleans are changing the ways in which students are disciplined after new studies report the high rates of exposure to trauma in the area.
According to the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, children in New Orleans are three times more likely to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder compared to those from other major US cities.
As a result, teachers and principals in the school district have begun to consider the emotional and behavioral needs of students.
Rather than disciplining students who misbehave, mental health advocates have changed the ways in which school officials help to treat trauma.
“Teachers and school staff really look at children through the lens of, ‘What’s wrong with that child?’ versus, ‘What happened to that child?’” explained Paulette Carter, President and CEO of mental health agency Children’s Bureau of New Orleans.
Read full story at: NPR