Table Of ContentUnderstanding Suffering in Schools
Drawing inspiration from Dr. Willi Schohaus’s classic text The Dark Places
of Education, this book contributes to the discussion by defining suffering in
schools and providing a survey of the American school system’s inadequacies in
the early twenty-first century.
Through testimonies from former students on the ways they experienced suf-
fering in school, this volume demonstrates how suffering can profoundly affect
one’s academic growth and development—or worse. By analyzing the findings
within a multidisciplinary ethical and educational framework, this volume pres-
ents a moral vision for understanding the role that suffering plays in school.
Drawing on research in medicine, psychology, social sciences, religion, and
education, this text weaves together many strands of thinking about suffering.
This book is essential reading for academics, researchers, and postgraduate stu-
dents in the fields of educational leadership, foundations of education, and those
interested in both the history of education and critical contemporary accounts
of schooling.
Joseph Polizzi is Associate Professor of Education and Educational Leadership
at Sacred Heart University, USA.
William C. Frick is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at
the University of Oklahoma, USA.
Understanding Suffering
in Schools
Shining a Light on the Dark Places
of Education
Joseph Polizzi and William C. Frick
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Joseph Polizzi and William C. Frick
The right of Joseph Polizzi and William C. Frick to be identified as
authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77
and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or repro-
duced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-61091-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-32396-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-46549-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9780429465499
Typeset in Bembo
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
Dedicated to those
who have quietly suffered because of their school
experiences.
For all who seek to lead first from their heart.
In memory of
Stuart Manley Spangler, January 2, 1993–August 27,
2011
Contents
List of Illustrations viii
Acknowledgements ix
Foreword xi
Preface xv
1 Contributions to Suffering Based on Critical Contemporary
Accounts of Schooling 1
2 Willi Schohaus and the Shadow over the School:
Suffering Then… 20
3 Understanding Suffering for Educators 44
4 Study Description 66
5 Voices of Lament and Suffering in School: Suffering Now… 74
6 Interpretations and Discussion 122
7 Concluding Thoughts on Suffering in School [Epilogue] 138
Index 142
Illustrations
Figures
1.1 Students Protesting from March for Our Lives. Photograph
by Jeff Seymour. 8
2.1 Original call for responses from the October 1927 edition of
Schweizer Spiegel. 21
2.2 Second call for responses from the November 2, 1927, edition of
Schweizer Spiegel. 22
2.3 Reader accounts from the December 1927 edition of
Schweizer Spiegel. 24
2.4 Photograph of Willi Schohaus around the time that
The Dark Places of Education was published. 29
2.5 Photo of Willi Schohaus in 1967 (photo by Hans Baumgartner). 40
4.1 Participation flyer/email. 68
4.2 Participation print advertisement. 69
Tables
3.1 Categories of Existential Distress 48
3.2 Virtues of the Medical Practitioner 51
3.3 Ideal Attributes of the Medical Practitioner 52
3.4 The Eightfold Path 56
Acknowledgements
René Züst and the former students of Willi Schohaus who shared their note-
books and yearbooks from the Teacher Seminar at Kreuzlingen.
Schweizer Spiegel (October, November, December 1927) D 6155,
Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv.
Geheeb Archives at the E’cole d’Humanite, Hasliberg, Switzerland, for provid-
ing information on the life of Willi Schohaus.
University of Reading, United Kingdom, Special Collections.
Sacred Heart University and Dean Michael Alfano for giving me a space to
refine my thinking, teaching, and research in order to make a positive difference
in the world. Colleagues Kristin Rainville and Jim Carl for their careful reading
and editing during the latter stages of writing.
Sister Mary Persico, IHM, EdD, Marywood University President, for granting a
sabbatical in the spring of 2018 in order to conduct research and begin writing.
The library staff at Sacred Heart University and Marywood University, particu-
larly Mary Kay Maldonato.
Amy Paciej-Woodruff for assistance in the field.
Steven Jay Gross, Joan Shapiro, David P. Baker, Susan Laird, Brad Janey, May
Spangler, Darcy Ronan, René Roselle, Mark Murphy, Marc Brasof, Anthony
Sarchiapone, Pete Ippolito, and Kendrick Norris for their wise counsel, encour-
agement and support along the way.
Francesco Mulé, MD, for his knowledge of palliative care and insight into the
human heart.
To our graduate students for their understanding, gracefulness, and dedication
to the careful and difficult social, emotional, and academic work of teaching and
leading. A particularly loud shout goes out to Joe’s former high school students
from Cobble Hill School of American Studies in Brooklyn, NY.—You make
me proud!
Daria Corey, Jess Beardsworth, and Sarah Bergers for their unwavering adminis-
trative support during turbulent times.
Lee Sebastiani and her exceptional editing and unique ability to roll with it all.
Matt Friberg, Elsbeth Wright, Alice Salt, and AnnaMary Goodall at Taylor
Francis/Routledge.
