Storying the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Personal Narratives as a Path Toward Transformation

• In Event: 65.045 - From Incarceration to Education: Challenging the Effects of the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Abstract

What happens when the so-called victims of the school-to-prison pipeline engage actively in the process of presenting their experiences to educators? In 2012-2013, the authors conducted a case study on the school-to-prison pipeline, focusing specifically on the experiences of a mother and her two sons. For the past year, our participants (one in particular) have served as co-authors, co-presenters, and guest speakers to audiences of primarily teachers and administrators in efforts to “get the word out” about the damaging effects of the school-to-prison pipeline. This new research explores what it was like for our participants to share their stories. Initial findings suggest that the process may have served as a form of healing, empowerment, and self-efficacy for our participants. (119)

Author

• Letitia Basford, Hamline University