As a society, we do not openly discuss domestic violence and yet its reality is front and center for children and youth whose lives are deeply shaped by it. The school landscape is bleak for many, if not all, youth with histories of domestic violence. They are one of the largest populations of youth being pushed into the school-to-prison pipeline. We know little to nothing about how they navigate school—how they engage with and resist educational practices and thus take up subject positions. What we do know from popular, psychological literature is that they are often objectified as troubled dramatically shaping their experiences in school. As a way to invite an alternative story, I discuss the challenges these children and youth face when they navigate what they perceive to be violating interactions in educational settings.

Tracey Pyscher, Ph.D, is an Assistant Professor of Secondary Education in the Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University. Her research interests include understanding and naming the social and cultural experiences of children and youth with histories of domestic violence (HDV youth) and their navigation of school and critical literacy and learning. She has published several book chapters articles related to her research on/with youth with histories of domestic violence.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx