Teal Talk: Sexual Violence & the K-12 Curriculum

In conjunction with the exhibition at the MSU Museum, “Finding Our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak,” the MSU Museum is hosting a series of Teal Talks, which are facilitated conversations by scholars and advocates about the exhibit and the important issues it raises.

Kyle Greenwalt from the College of Education will present on October 11, 2019.
“Can we teach about sexual violence in the K-12 curriculum? To answer this question means raising a whole host of other concerns that might be voiced by parents and teachers: Is there time in the school day to discuss such issues given other competing curricular demands? It is developmentally appropriate to discuss such issues? Are teachers adequately prepared to lead discussions oof such issues? Do we risk re-traumatizing victims of sexual violence if such discussions are done unskillfully? In this Teal Talk, I will share several ways we might consider this issue, before inviting discussion and sharing on the topic.”

The special exhibit “Finding Our Voice: Sister Survivors Speak” was developed in collaboration with sister survivors and their allies, reflecting on the vast crisis of sexual violence centered on the MSU campus in recent years. Through visual art, poetry, text and audio installations, the exhibit chronicles the survivors’ continuing struggle to call public attention to sexual violence and to promote dignity, healing and positive transformation. The exhibition is now on display in the Main Gallery at the MSU Museum through March 2020.