In its original meaning the term “at-risk” was meant to focus attention on the HAZZARDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
That can lead to poor outcomes for ANY CHILD!!
It was never intended to become what it has turned into…. Another description or label for “ CERTAIN KINDS OF KIDS”!!
Once the term became distorted it simply has become another label to describe kids.
We have shifted from the original focus… which was on how to build supportive environments for ALL children and youth…toward once
Again… labeling kids!!
I suggest to you that this is the wrong focus……!!
Let’s take a look at the SEEDS OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND THE
4 ENVIRONMENTAL HAZZARDS THAT PLACE CHILDREN AND YOUTH
“AT-RISK”.
1. DESTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS
As experienced by rejected or unclaimed children, abandoned, unable to trust…and expecting to be hurt again.
Bowlby ( 1982 ) described 2 types of anger triggered by UNSTABLE BELONGINGS….
The first he called: THE ANGER OF DESPAIR
It is seen in youth who believe…
“It is no use… I deserve what is happening to me.”
These kids feel deep guilt and worthlessness…they have
- Very low self esteem
- Sexual abuse may have been experienced by these children
- Are at high risk of drug/alcohol abuse
- You may see promiscuous behaviors
- High risk of depression
- Cutting
- Suicide
- These are the children and youth that act their anger out “inwardly”
- They blame themselves for how they have been treated by those
closest to them.
The second group he labeled: THE ANGER OF HOPE
This is seen in youth who believe:
· “I” do not deserve this shit. It is not fair.
· They are indignant at the treatment they have received and direct their
Anger …”EXTERNALLY” AT ALL OTHERS.
· They have a sense of me first.
· No one tells me what to do… I can and do take care of myself!
· Fuck-You All…..
There is a third broad group of HYPER-VIGILANT CHILDREN always in an uneasy state of ANXIETY AND STRESS. These kids can look at act like children with ADHD.
Over time… all these children can become… “RELATIONSHIP RESISTENT”
AND DISTRUSTFUL OF ALL ADULTS.
They are children with-out POSITIVE ADULT BELONGINGS!!!
2. CLIMATES OF FUTILITY
As experienced by children that rarely meet with any success in schools. They have long histories of failure…many times repeating grades….being removed from schools and programs….and becoming crippled by feelings of inadequacy.
Generally schools have not had much success with these children and have been characterized by:
- High Degrees of Punitive-ness
- Negative Expectations
- Professional Pessimism
Inadvertently Schools often recreate the STRESS and CONFLICT of the kids life outside of school. These kids carry their worlds into our schools and they get unconscious adults to re-create those worlds on a daily basis in many of our schools!
It is also important to note… that for many kids…it is much better to be seen as BAD… rather than STUPID!!!
3. Learned Irresponsibility
As seen in kids who display an “ I DON’T CARE”…INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE IN OUR SCHOOLS OR… A “DEFIANT…REBELLIOUS”.. “YOU CAN’T MAKE ME” DISPLAY.
As students disengage academically they become powerfully dependent on other DISENGAGED PEERS who join together to support each other in their “hatred of school”!!
4. LOSS OF PURPOSE
As seen by self-centered youth searching for meaning in a world of very confusing values. Empathy must be nurtured to grow and many of these children have been under-nourished.
Young people can not develop their own value unless they have opportunities to be of value to others.
THESE ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZZARDS THAT OUR MOST TROUBLING CHILDREN HAVE GROWN IN. To reclaim them will require schools to do many things a bit differently….
Let us begin.....
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