Children who believe they are at fault accept the title of "I'm a bad kid." These children are under the misconception that all adults "are out to get them." As Dr. Rappaport puts it: “They see negative where we see neutral.”(Child Mind Institute , n.d.)

In the documentary Paper Tigers, the student Steven Garduno was endanger of failing his senior year and giving up on school. The teacher, Mr. Gordon, listened compassionately and not argumentatively. "Just know I'm unwaveringly on your side and I am here for you." (Redford, 2015) That simple statement can mean the world to a child in a time of crisis.

“Helping children develop emotional regulation skills positively contributes to their ability to manage difficult situations,” Nichole Henderson, Uvalde CISD director of recovery services, said in a news release (Scheve, 2024).

"A student’s access to positive role models and ways of dealing with peers can play a major role in the healing process and lead to strong social, academic, and behavioral outcomes.^" (Department of Education , 2019)

This research has proven that empathic teaching allows students to improve and feel support in all manners of life. As a result, the child will be more resilient in the face of challenges

Bearing in mind the student's needs and circumstances requires communication between educators, families, and support services available. One of the goals of empathic teaching is to implement a supportive atmosphere to allow the child to succeed in their education and their non-academic world. The key factors of empathetic teaching are clear communication and a whole understanding of the life challenges affecting a student's experience.

Collaborating with community support services, child study team (if IEP is in place), school counselors can implement a plan to reduce the challenges of living in poverty. For example, a student who is coming to school hungry and volatile due to said hunger can then be provided with a meal every morning. Thus, improving his educational experience and creating a sense of safety and understanding.

If an educator is not aware of the student's struggles due to poverty, one can misinterpret the symptoms and attribute them to a learning disability.

Clearly, the traditional education system is not effective for all populations of students. Change needs to happen. Social justice in education entails breaking down systemic barriers and forming trusting relationships. Trauma-informed teaching is one way to build positive relationships which then can create an infrastructure of trust. As a result, academic success can be achieved.

"By identifying the large number of children who are chronically bullied, live with homelessness or in the proximity of pervasive community violence, are refugees from war-torn countries, are shuttled around in the foster care system, survive natural disasters, undergo multiple, invasive medical procedure, or live with a parent traumatized by combat, these studies have demonstrated that traumatic experiences are more pervasive than many educators currently recognize" (Cole et al., 2013).