This morning I read James Lang’s “The Healing Power of Learning” in which he describes quite movingly his experience of a recent life-threatening and life-changing health event and the months-long healing process. He described how his own trauma and that of his wife and children had helped him understand the importance of trauma-informed educational practice. At the end of many months of serious illness and close brushes with death, he began to read again and realized the healing power of learning.
I’ve been a follower of Dr. Lang’s work for a while, most recently reading his book, Small Teaching, in which he shares many excellent - and doable - ideas for making our teaching more effective and equitable. He has listened to students over the years and has been open to learning from them, resulting in his development as growth-oriented teacher and learner.
His reflection on his illness and recovery reminded me of the year during which I wrote my dissertation, a year filled with relationship struggles that nearly derailed my life and career. I remember thinking even at the time that writing the dissertation probably saved my sanity and my future. The need to focus on the research and the writing - learning, basically - provided me with a place of relative peace and healing for which I still feel gratitude several decades later.
All this has affirmed the ideas that I’ve been working on about student learning and thriving. Especially during these last couple of years, it’s been tempting to lower our standard in schools at all levels given what students - and parents and teachers and school leaders - have experienced of loss and uncertainty. Dr. Lang’s words have reminded me that lowering standards, or in any other way expecting less of students and of ourselves, is exactly what we don’t need. The message has got to remain, “I have very high standards and I know each of you can meet them and I’m here to support you all the way.” Students want our best and need us to expect the best of them. Most especially for students whose lives are full of uncertainty, our support and encouragement at school can help them benefit from the healing power of learning.
Thanks, as always, to teachers and school leaders, for all the work you do everyday on behalf of students and their families. I hope that even in the midst of exhaustion you have found moments when your own learning has provided you with strength and hope.