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But can't we separate between something being really stupid and - IMO - a fireable offense if repeated (like a teacher giving kids dog biscuits) and childhoo

But can't we separate between something being really stupid and - IMO - a fireable offense if repeated (like a teacher giving kids dog biscuits) and childhood trauma? Or am I misunderstanding and there is some stronger word that I'm not aware of for getting beaten up, forgotten, abused etc? Otherwise I feel we are mixing basically privileged kids like 1.) myself (poor parents, no tv, mostly didn't get to play football with the boys at my age until I was approaching teenage) with kids who 2.) has been beaten or otherwise abused, suffered food deprivation either as punishment or because no food was available etc. While I sometimes foolishly could wish I was accepted in childhood I really don't want to pretend I suffered a lot. I even think that it would just make me weaker.

colanderman 9y ago
I think we're arguing over the definition of a broad term – "trauma". What's emotionally traumatic (causing psychological injury or great distress, per Wiktionary) to one student can be a chance for fun for another (as the OP pointed out, he had fun with the dog biscuits, good for him). It varies by culture too. But I think everyone here can remember a time they were forced to do something humiliating by one's peers. That's a basic form of bullying, which studies have shown has lasting effects into adulthood. [1] Great distress + psychological injury = emotional trauma. ("Great" and "injury" are again broad terms so we could keep going here…) Being forced to do something humiliating by an authority figure – even as a punishment – is not really much different from being forced by a peer. It's arguably worse, since the authority figure models to the child's peers that humiliating this child is OK. It's not really excusable when there are plenty of other disciplinary options available. (Certainly I've never taught at or attended a school that found it necessary to keep a supply of dog biscuits at hand.) Yes, being beaten or denied food are much worse – the stronger word I would use there is "child abuse". Doesn't mean that denigration by an authority figure isn't traumatic. [1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/long-term-effects-of-bullying_n_2728190.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/long-term-effects-o...

colanderman 9y ago

I think we're arguing over the definition of a broad term – "trauma". What's emotionally traumatic (causing psychological injury or great distress, per Wiktionary) to one student can be a chance for fun for another (as the OP pointed out, he had fun with the dog biscuits, good for him). It varies by culture too. But I think everyone here can remember a time they were forced to do something humiliating by one's peers. That's a basic form of bullying, which studies have shown has lasting effects into adulthood. [1] Great distress + psychological injury = emotional trauma. ("Great" and "injury" are again broad terms so we could keep going here…) Being forced to do something humiliating by an authority figure – even as a punishment – is not really much different from being forced by a peer. It's arguably worse, since the authority figure models to the child's peers that humiliating this child is OK. It's not really excusable when there are plenty of other disciplinary options available. (Certainly I've never taught at or attended a school that found it necessary to keep a supply of dog biscuits at hand.) Yes, being beaten or denied food are much worse – the stronger word I would use there is "child abuse". Doesn't mean that denigration by an authority figure isn't traumatic. [1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/long-term-effects-of-bullying_n_2728190.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/long-term-effects-o...