I like how the diversity conference is two days long that overlap with this blog weekly blog assignment! I can blog today for this previous week and tomorrow for the next week. Nice!
Today there was a spoken word poet social activist who ended the conference day with a few poems, questions, and thoughts. I had a chance to talk with him afterwards and one piece of the conversation revolved around the role and responsibility that arises when a high school or middle school student performs spoken word about their lived experience and serious issues arise. Grad student Blanca was there as well and she said she has been working to start a spoken word community in the Reno K-12 schools. She gets push back from teachers who are afraid of what issues may arise and what new information they will know about their students. Teachers are concerned about how to deal with it. The example of a young girl speaking about her rape was used.
So, what is the ethical decision in this situation?
The three of us agreed that not talking about it and perpetuating a culture of silence does not erase what happened. Bad things happen. Our students deal with heavy sh*t daily. Not talking about doesn't make it go away. Using spoken word as a way to communicate and process those experiences can be cathartic for the student and a creative and safe outlet. K-12 teachers are mandate reporters to begin with, so if a student came to them and shared a horrible trauma with them, they would have to act.
Plus, there is something to be said for being proactive. If we know that in general, spoken word can lead to the sharing of traumatic and abusive experiences, we can prepare for a response that is healing and appropriate.
What do y'all think?
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