Grief as Truth-Telling: Uprooting the Violence of Schooling

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium explores the ways grief impacts our understanding of healing self, each other, and the world. Given that recurring grief and trauma are a manifestation and symptom of structural violence that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, we argue that to ignore these fissures is to ignore the full humanity of ourselves and our students. In this session, we turn to concepts of embodiment, trauma, and healing to address the way our own complex grief as educators and researchers, and that of our students, is worthy of deep intimate interrogation and is essential for advancing a consequential and humanizing education. Together, we offer an examination of theoretical frameworks and pedagogical practices to center, navigate, and transform grief in educational and community spaces.

Sub Unit

• Division G - Social Context of Education / Division G - Section 5: Inquiry, Transformation, and Communities

Chair

• Sara Jasmin Diaz-Montejano, University of California - Los Angeles

Papers

• Black Grief as the Nexus Toward the Beyond: Toward Truth-Telling on the Social Toxin That Is School - Tiffani Marie, San Jose State University

• Grieving Disembodiment: A Radical Feminist Analysis of the Burnout and Pushout of Teachers of Color - Stephanie Cariaga, California State University - Dominguez Hills

• Pedagogies of Love and Loss: A Portrait of Grief and Healing - Sharim Hannegan-Martinez, University of Michigan

Discussant

• Bettina L. Love, Teachers College, Columbia University