Riglyne aan onderwysers in die hantering van geweldgetraumatiseerde leerders

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)The changing political and social situation in South Africa can be associated with the current violence and poverty in especially the more rural areas. As a result large numbers of black learners are directly or indirectly exposed to violent traumatic incidences. Research indicates that exposure to violent trauma can lead to the development of psychological and emotional disturbances and in particular the development of post traumatic stress disorder. Due to a lack of support systems and accessibility thereof, large numbers of learners exposed to violent trauma are in need of assistance. The learners have serious emotional problems and are also experiencing learning and behavioral problems. Teachers also seem to experience difficulty in handling these traumatized learners, due to a lack of appropriate skills and knowledge. The aim of the study was to identify the needs of teachers in handling learners traumatized by violent incidences and to develop guidelines for teachers in assisting the learners with the purpose of reducing the psychological and emotional effects of the violent trauma. The point of departure of the study was based on the assumption that the educational system needs to support every learner in becoming a healthy member of society through optimal education and development. Eight teachers, two principals and a community worker from two different schools in a predominantly brown area participated in the study. By means of focus group interviews and informal interviews the needs and problems in handling traumatized learners were identified and discussed. The teachers then received training in identifying the symptoms of the learner who has been traumatized by violent trauma. After that, guidelines were supplied to assist teachers in the debriefing of the learner's traumatic symptoms and emotions. These sessions took place over a period of three weeks. The results indicated that the teachers experience difficulty with identifying and handling the traumatized learners in the class. As a result of the study, a number of guidelines, based on the themes that were identified by the analysis of the data, have been developed for teachers in the handling of the traumatized learne