Breaking the Silence: Teaching Tolerance about Mental Disorders- Myranda Earhart

Breaking the Silence: Teaching Tolerance about Mental Disorders

Why I Care:

When I was in elementary school, I met a boy named Jonathan. He was a special education student, and he joined the rest of the students for activities such as recess and lunch. Looking back, it is clear that Jonathan had some sort of extreme neurological disorder, but I have no idea what kind of disorder Jonathan had. It was never discussed or explained to any of the students. As a result of this lack of education concerning Jonathan’s condition, a vast majority of the student body treated Jonathan very poorly because he was different. They would laugh at him, they would run away from him, they would refuse to speak to him, and they would mock him. It was very obvious that Jonathan was being ostracized by some ridiculed by others, but not once in my entire educational experience at that elementary school did an adult intervene.

As a child that had grown up in a family that taught tolerance from a young age, I did not find how others treated Jonathan acceptable. While I didn't tease or ignore Jonathan, I also did not have the courage to stand up for him. Even though I was only a child, this is one of my biggest regrets.

I didn't see Jonathan for five years after 5^th grade. My sophomore year of high school, I passed him in the hallway. I didn't think he would recognize me; it had been a very long time and I looked vastly different. But he did. Not only did he recognize me, but his face completely lit up and he started smiling and waving frantically.

That moment changed my life. The fact that it meant so much to Jonathan to meet someone who treated him with respect makes me both very happy and very sad. I am happy that I was able to make a difference in his life, and that makes me hopeful I can make a difference in others lives as well. It also makes me very sad that simply treating Jonathan with respect stood out so much to him in his mind. Tolerance shouldn't be the acceptation; it should be the rule.

Democratic Roots of Tolerance:

One of the most important values of a democracy is, “Concern for the dignity and rights of individuals and minorities”, (Apple and Bean, 7). This concern for both dignity and the rights of all people implies that tolerance is at the very roots of democracy. Therefore, in order to provide democratic education, tolerance must be incorporated into the curriculum itself. This includes tolerance of mental disorders. Jonathan deserved to be treated with dignity; he was denied that right in his educational experience. Teachers must work to become democratic educators and ensure that tolerance is taught in the classroom in order to ensure that such injustices do not occur.

Setting the Example:

Silence promotes the stigma attached to mental disorders, and the worst thing a teacher or aid can do is keep silent about the subject. Lorraine Kaplan, founder of a program entitled “Breaking the Silence”, has made a curriculum for students from elementary school to high school that educates students on mental disorders and creates a tolerant environment for those suffering from mental disorders. “We decided that we had to speak out, that not speaking about mental illness is very unhealthy in every way," Kaplan says.

Kaplan’s program includes a variety of true stories, activities, board games, and posters that help students understand and tolerate various mental health disorders. "They can be taught that some children can't help being different, and that they're suffering from something," she says. "Then kids can support others who are sick, and not feel it's something to be ashamed of."

This kind of message needs to be taught in all elementary schools. Tying tolerance into the curriculum ensures that all students are provided a safe educational environment.

Practical Implementation:

            Kaplan’s program is a wonderful example of how tolerance of mental disorders can be incorporated into the educational experience. Every teacher should strive for tolerance in their classroom, no matter the issue may be. Whether the concerning issue be mental disorders, race, gender, or anything else, it is important to have a way to address such sensitive issues. Here are some ways to go about addressing such issues:

1)      Break the silence.

If you witness a child being discriminated against by another student, do not stay silent. Pull the aggressive child aside and speak to them in a calm manor. It is pertinent that the child understands WHY he or she is wrong, not just that they are acting inappropriately. You should contact the parents and your principal about having this discussion and any concerns you may have.

2)      Get to the science.

Sometimes it takes understanding the cause of differences for children to understand and accept differences. People, children included, tend to fear what they don’t know. Talk about what makes people different at a biological level, and make sure they understand that there is nothing wrong with individual differences in our make-up. After all, we are all unique in how we are put together. You may have to contact parents or your principal depending on the extent of the content.

3)      Make information accessible.

Whether it be posters, books, or as Kaplan experimented with, board games, make sure your students are exposed to a message of tolerance that they can understand on a daily basis. If you plan teaching with this information extensively, make sure you contact parents and your principal.

4)      Share experiences.

One way we relate to each other is by discussing our feelings and experiences. Lead a monitored discussion in your classroom concerning tolerance, and allow students to share their thoughts and feelings. Make sure you contact parents and your principal about said discussion.

5)      Lead by action.

Students pick up a lot from their teachers just by watching them. Make certain you are demonstrating tolerance in your classroom as well as you possibly can. Being a role model for children can make all the difference in their actions.

*Contacting parents and the principal is often necessary in order to teach sensitive materials. Sensitive information should be taught, but it should also be forewarned out of respect for parents and administrators.

Hope for the Future

Using these tools to promote tolerance, it is my hope that every child, regardless of what makes them different, will experience a safe, democratic educational experience. As a future child psychologist, I am very passionate about teaching on the subject of mental disorders. I want to ensure that no other child will experience the discrimination Jonathan was subjected to. In order for this to happen, all teachers must band together and break the silence concerning sensitive issues, including mental disorders. 

Works Cited

Apple, Michael, and James Beane. Democratic Schools. 2nd ed. Heinemann, 2007. Print.

Kaplan, Lorraine. "Silence that Promotes Stigma." Teaching Tolerance. Southern Poverty Law Center, 12 Jun 2006. Web. 5 Dec 2013. <http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/silence-promotes-stigma>.