Here are some of theHere are some of the

““most important sentences” most important sentences”

people in workshops pulled people in workshops pulled

outout

from their 5-minute free from their 5-minute free

writes.writes.

I have seen violence, I have seen violence,

(intimidation, bullying, threats) (intimidation, bullying, threats)

used by teachers in authoritarian used by teachers in authoritarian

classrooms, not only inhibit classrooms, not only inhibit

learning but clearly turning learning but clearly turning

students off and away from all students off and away from all

school experiences.school experiences.

Sometimes it can empower Sometimes it can empower

someone to stand up and fight. It someone to stand up and fight. It

can be a cause that brings can be a cause that brings

women together.women together.

Violence can result in Violence can result in

‘dehumanization or loss of ‘dehumanization or loss of

spirit’.spirit’.

I know that violence can paralyze I know that violence can paralyze

but I am also coming to realize but I am also coming to realize

the power of the human spirit to the power of the human spirit to

rise above that violence – rise above that violence –

redemptive is the only work I can redemptive is the only work I can

think to use – the redemptive think to use – the redemptive

quality of the human spirit.quality of the human spirit.

I had no idea the horrors that I had no idea the horrors that

my students had seen.my students had seen.

Learning skills of staying safe Learning skills of staying safe

and alive in a culture of violence and alive in a culture of violence

– when to stay quiet, how to – when to stay quiet, how to

behave, how to protect behave, how to protect

children/siblings – living in a children/siblings – living in a

violent and toxic society.violent and toxic society.

How can I learn when my brain How can I learn when my brain

closes down and all I want to do is closes down and all I want to do is

run away – I’ve learned to hide it run away – I’ve learned to hide it

well but it takes a lot of energy well but it takes a lot of energy

and I can’t listen as well.and I can’t listen as well.

Victims of violence may Victims of violence may

perpetuate acts of violence perpetuate acts of violence

because they may have because they may have

normalized the acts against them normalized the acts against them

as a survival/copying mechanism. as a survival/copying mechanism.

Historically rooted and systemic Historically rooted and systemic

violence reflecting the impositions violence reflecting the impositions

of colonialism, imperialism and of colonialism, imperialism and

patriarchy go vastly unaddressed patriarchy go vastly unaddressed

in learning contexts but are at the in learning contexts but are at the

heart of the matter.heart of the matter.

Need for survival surpasses need Need for survival surpasses need

for learning during conflict and for learning during conflict and

war – terror occupies all senses – war – terror occupies all senses –

how to learn?how to learn?

Violence cuts off certain channels Violence cuts off certain channels

of learning, while opening up of learning, while opening up

others.others.

Violence affects all aspects of Violence affects all aspects of

one’s life….one’s life….

this violence causes new ways this violence causes new ways

of learning “resistance and of learning “resistance and

agency.”agency.”

The emotional scars of her early The emotional scars of her early

experiences have interfered experiences have interfered

dramatically in her ability to dramatically in her ability to

form relationships and even to form relationships and even to

cope with day to day tasks.cope with day to day tasks.

Violence strips a person of respectViolence strips a person of respect

for oneself and the ability to for oneself and the ability to

succeed.succeed.

Little sense of who they are, what Little sense of who they are, what

they should do, why they should they should do, why they should

do it, or with whom.do it, or with whom.

The mind closes down and I The mind closes down and I

can’t see or hear, I don’t can’t see or hear, I don’t

recognize…recognize…

Obedience and silence are still Obedience and silence are still

highly prized ‘virtues’ of highly prized ‘virtues’ of

women.women.

Subtle violence. Some students Subtle violence. Some students

don’t have their own money or don’t have their own money or

don’t have a credit card. Student don’t have a credit card. Student

has to use their husband’s credit has to use their husband’s credit

card with his permission.card with his permission.

Any problem with learning brings Any problem with learning brings

back flood of unhappy childhood back flood of unhappy childhood

memories of school failure.memories of school failure.

Victims of violence feel that their Victims of violence feel that their

sense of boundaries are often sense of boundaries are often

compromised and their lack of compromised and their lack of

trust impedes their spontaneity or trust impedes their spontaneity or

absorption of new material.absorption of new material.

The colourful tapestry of life The colourful tapestry of life

becomes dark, foreboding and becomes dark, foreboding and

very frayed, the joy of very frayed, the joy of

learning/being and innocence is learning/being and innocence is

lost.lost.

She told her mother in law who She told her mother in law who

told her she knew about the abuse told her she knew about the abuse

and said it was up to her to try and said it was up to her to try

harder – because that’s what she harder – because that’s what she

had to do with her husband/his had to do with her husband/his

father. father.

The gate remains closed for The gate remains closed for

women, and we need to women, and we need to

understand the heaviness of the understand the heaviness of the

gate and the characteristics of the gate and the characteristics of the

gate keeper to know how to open gate keeper to know how to open

the gate for women who have the gate for women who have

experienced violence.experienced violence.

Verbal abuse is abuse nonetheless, Verbal abuse is abuse nonetheless,

though it is believed to be less though it is believed to be less

harmful.harmful.

Afraid all afternoonAfraid all afternoon

and couldn’t concentrate.and couldn’t concentrate.

Creates inhibitions in the class when Creates inhibitions in the class when

a sudden voice or loud laugh can a sudden voice or loud laugh can

silence someone and close them off silence someone and close them off

from learning for the moment….it from learning for the moment….it

takes time to dissolve the emotional takes time to dissolve the emotional

barriers that allow a person to be barriers that allow a person to be

receptive.receptive.