ABSTRACT
In the therapeutic school, they made a point of sending letters to the newspaper editor when in the spirited classroom debates it was decided their opinions should become part of a wider public discussion. In one instance, the students discussed and then protested the state's first impending 'bear hunt'. To their amazement, the class's letter was published–such is the excitement and power of the written word. It began as a class discussion and then expanded to the afternoon's activity–such was the 'organic' nature of the curriculum. If something was 'hot' they stayed with it. During the group discussion, their most literate student became the 'scribe', condensing differing opinions, editing the document and then in group work helping articulates the class's consensus on the position taken. Expressive writing may motivate children and teens to also express negative feelings with candour and honesty, which captures their struggles 'in the raw'.
