Alfred Tatum, author of the text we will be reading, uses the term Black Males in Turmoil to refer to the specific type of student he is referencing. What does this term mean to you? How would you define a student who is in turmoil vs. a student who is not?
A student in turmoil is one that has no purpose. There is a lack of positive influences and most likely an abundance of negative influences. Decent role models are absent and the students are left to figure life out for themselves... creating turmoil. A student that is not in turmoil has adequate supply of support from adults. They don't have to "find their way" near as much.
ReplyDeleteAt least that's what I think...
When I hear the term "student in turmoil" I agree that support and resources are not as readily available but I also think of student trying to make a decision. Often times that decision is unpopular, to like school, do the right thing, etc... and often times school is quite hard either because of ability or just being behind. If a student is in turmoil they will need much support and guidance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other post and just wanted to add a bit more. :)
To me, the word connotes change and the angst that comes along with it. I think often adolescence is defined by turmoil. Students begin to see outside themselves and are confronted with many ideas of what their identity should be and what they should value. I think many of our students have added turmoil that comes from other factors of stress or instability in life, when students don't have all their physical, social or emotional needs met.
ReplyDeleteI have a student who I consider to be "in turmoil." He was one who would say "I don't care." The problem was I believed he did not care. I've spent the quarter trying to prove that people do care about him. I'm making very little progress, but any progress with this student is positive. He completed an assignment today. (On time and correctly) I was so proud. And the smile on his face showed that he was too!
ReplyDeleteOh my, this is getting interesting...
ReplyDeleteWell, a student dictionary stated turmoil means: state of confusion; agitation or disturbance. According to this I identified almost all of my students. I begin to create levels or status for the intensity of turmoil. Even those with support systems are swayed by a myriad of things. Support systems have to be extremely strong or the child must have inner determination to find or make the way, so that the support or resilence has more fortitude than the influences. Heck, for all we know adolescence could be viewed as turmiol.
I like rjohnson's idea that "a student in turmoil is one that has no purpose." As others have said, all adolescents are "in turmoil" to one degree or another. However, those Tatum describes as "in turmoil" seem to be those who face overwhelming odds with few to no resources of any kind to assist them. Tatum insists that "turmoil. . .does not automatically lead to stunted literacy." In fact, he suggests that literacy can provide help for those "in turmoil." Students who are not "in turmoil" have resources (people, self-definitions, knowledge, experiences) that help them envision a welcoming future of possibilities based on the education they are now receiving.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that adolescence is a time of turmoil for everyone, meaning a time of change, upheaval, feeling different. However, when Alfred Tatum described the turmoil in his own life, it made me think how others would define that word differently from the way I do. I think that the young people in turmoil he is addressing have nothing stable in their lives to anchor them in the storms of adolescence. To me, literature was always the calm place, but I realize I need to find literature that can provide the anchor to students in turmoil.
ReplyDeleteInteresting choice of words: anchor. Cory had gone to the dictionary for "turmoil", so I decided to go there for "anchor".
ReplyDeleteAnchor: That which gives stability or security; that on which we place dependence for safety; An emblem of hope.
Interesting to think about from this perspective. I agree that adolescence is, in itself, a time of turmoil, but I also agree that the kind of student Tatum refers to experiences turmoil exponentially and in somewhat different ways.
Thanks for helping me think, Teresa!