Lo and I skipped the previous week and there was a lot to catch up. I’m pretty sure she thinks this whole thing is crazy and she is here to support me as much as she can. Knowing that I do not have a psychology degree, she is desperately trying to see what she can do to help. I see her limitations being working with teenage girls in prison and probably working with 100% girls of color.
I told Lo about our plan about disruption. and she suggested something else. Go back to the girls and ask about how they are experiencing disruption, curiosity around what they are feeling, provide pauses and in general model gentle inquiry.
The reason is the girls are used to resistance from authority and they are asking us to be reduced to authority figures of which they can resist. that is their pattern.
The teaching practice of asking how they are feeling during a disruptive time or what they are experiencing is a way to break the cycle. Bottom line is not to give in to removing Ta from the circle but keep it as a teaching point.