009 – S1 E8 – How might we redesign educational systems to prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of the whole child ahead of academic rigor?

homeroom is a podcast bridging the education gap between the classroom and the living room by starting conversations on topics impacting society. In this episode, I speak with Sze, a trauma-informed art therapist–about the impact that family circumstances have on a student’s ability to perform, and why rigorous academic demands may not be the answer to helping the most vulnerable members of our communities from achieving life-long success. We talked about the pivotal moments from our journeys which helped us realize how important it is to care for our mental health, and discussed the possibilities of centering the emotional needs of our children in our educational systems. Check out our conversation, join our ongoing discourse on social media, and subscribe for more. https://www.instagram.com/homeroomed/ — Trigger Warnings: child abuse, suicide — Sze is a trauma-informed yoga and art therapist helping her clients access deeper levels of healing and self-discovery. https://www.instagram.com/sze.dobrowolska/ Rée is a visual storyteller and educator exploring the consequences that mass education has on creativity, identity, and interpersonal connection. https://www.instagram.com/theinterdisciplinarian/