By KATIE TIAN
The inclusion of sensitive issues in classroom discussions is often necessary to develop students’ awareness and critical thinking skills. However, such classroom activities could evoke a negative emotional response for students who have undergone traumatic experiences or suffer from certain mental disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Recently, many educational institutions have adopted policies of trigger warnings.
Trigger warnings, which originated in online blogs and magazines, are written or verbal warnings used to flag material that may be a cause of distress. Debates have ensued as educators struggle to find a balance between protecting student interests and preserving academic freedom.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Caitlin La Brie of Pasadena, California clarified misconceptions about triggers, pointing out that most people experience feelings of anxiety at some point. She said, “For the average person, they’re going to be able to sit with that discomfort and manage it just fine.”
She explained, “A trigger is something that brings on a severe symptomatic reaction, such as a panic attack.”
Jericho High School Co-Principal Mr. Cohen clarified that there are currently no school or district-wide policies in place concerning trigger warnings. He said, “With social justice issues coming up on a daily basis, there is always the potential of challenging conversations. I want our school to be a healthy place to have those conversations because that’s what life is about.”
Social studies teacher Mr. Coval provides trigger warnings prior to the discussion of certain historical events. He said, “In World War II, some of the Japanese treatment of their subject people, like the Rape of Nanjing in China, and colonial policies where they derided Korean culture, would definitely require a warning.”
Junior Chloe S. recommends not only implementing new warnings but also increasing visibility for existing ones. She said, “There was a video that my AP World teacher once showed about the Holocaust, and I feel like there was a trigger warning, but not many kids were able to see it. Lots of my classmates are Jewish and were triggered by it.”
In a survey conducted by the JerEcho, more than half of respondents felt that verbal warnings are most effective in informing students about triggering content.
Jericho High School junior Fredi S. believes that trigger warnings should be used as a precautionary measure. She said, “I know a lot of my friends and a lot of kids in Jericho have eating disorders, who are bulimic or starve themselves to fit in, and I think that changes their views and reactions on certain topics in class.”
JerEcho survey results revealed that 83% of respondents feel it is necessary for teachers to provide trigger warnings, and 58% feel a mandatory schoolwide policy is necessary.
The three topics that the largest percentage of students feel require a trigger warning are sexual abuse, suicide, and self harm.
Some teachers strongly doubt the effectiveness of trigger warnings and believe that students should not be shielded. English teacher Mr. Kirby said, “To avoid it is not going to help those suffering from trauma, and it’s also going to create this sense of fragility in students who aren’t suffering. It has more of an infantilizing effect on today’s youth, and that’s disturbing to me.”
According to a “Washington Post” article, avoiding stressful subjects can lead to unnecessary anxiety and dread in the long term. However, some students find that sudden exposure to difficult topics in an unregulated environment harms more than it helps. “That’s a therapist’s job, not a teacher’s,” said junior Abigail P.
Jericho High School social worker Mr. Velez highlighted the abundance of resources available to students who are dealing with stressful or traumatic situations. He said, “I know that the school is very mindful of utilizing the mental health staff, whether it’s myself as a social worker, the 2 psychologists we have, or the guidance counselors.”
Mr. Cohen emphasized the importance of fostering growth and discovery through academics, even in the face of difficult conversations. “I’m a believer that high schools are not just about teaching calculus or biology, or teaching English and social studies,” he said. ”It’s about engaging teenagers in an open discussion and discourse about life and the thirst for learning.”
This is a really interesting article Katie! It is important for more people to acknowledge the importance of trigger warnings even in school.
Katie, this article was so well written and informing. Thank you for spreading awareness regarding mental health!
I like how several sources were involved in the article.
Thank you for talking about Trigger Warnings! This article was very educational and helpful for people who don’t understand their important.