Cutouts of paper tigers, unlike real tigers, pose no danger to the average student. But, the facade of a real threat that may be unassuming to some could actually cause stress in others' lives. It is this notion of the different reactions to stressors that led into the idea behind a documentary named "Paper Tigers."
Grand Valley State University held a free screening of the new film for students on Monday. The documentary, directed by James Redford, delves into trauma-informed education and the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study.
ACEs are traumatic events that happen in childhood or adolescence that have lasting negative effects on both physical and mental health, said Joel Stillerman, GVSU sociology professor.
"The study found that people who have suffered from abuse (in a variety of ways) are much more likely to have chronic physical and mental health conditions," Stillerman said.
The title of the movie, "Paper Tigers," is a metaphor for the struggles students with ACEs are facing.
“The idea is that students would respond to a paper tiger the same way they would to a real tiger because they are so wired to protect themselves from more stress in their lives, even if it was a paper tiger, they would react as if they were in real danger,” said Ruth Stegeman, GVSU's director for community engagement. “That struck me.”
The film follows students at Lincoln High School, an alternative high school in Walla Walla, Washington, for a year. Many of the students at the school struggle with ACEs. The film follows Lincoln’s staff as they try a different approach to how they discipline students. The new approach is based in understanding and treatment, rather than traditional punishment with detention or suspension.
[For more of this story, written by Suzanne Stocking, go to http://www.lanthorn.com/articl...-dealing-with-trauma]
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