National Adult Literacy Database

How do experiences of violence affect learning? How can educators support
those who have been through violence to learn successfully? After many years
looking at these questions as they apply to women in adult literacy programs,
the author began research to focus on youth2 . She wanted to deepen her understanding of the complex picture of how violence affects learning, and to examine how school responses played a part in creating this picture. Most importantly, she wanted to look for ways to strengthen the possibilities of supporting learning for youth in high schools and in youth literacy and training programs.

This report focuses on the words of the interviewees, particularly the youth—both
in school and out of school—and what they tell educators and others working
in educational programs about what we can do to support learning.