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Georgia Southern University

Curriculum and the Life Erratic: The Geographic Cure

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This dissertation examines a subset of Children of Alcoholics, whom I call Geographic Cure Children, who cope with both fermented parenting (as I have termed it) AND transient schooling. Viewed by schools and school systems simply as “highly mobile” students, their frequent school changes tell only part of the story. Geographic Cure Children arrive at their newest classrooms bearing the heavy burdens of emotional trauma and dark secrets about the Life Erratic. However, due to frequent mobility, their access to help or support is sketchy at best. Through currere, I employ autobiographical and psychoanalytic lenses to explore the intersection of curriculum theory and the Geographic Cure. I first discuss the effects of parental alcoholism, then examine the impact of frequent family moves upon school-aged children in general. What follows is my assertion that the chaotic melding of those two conditions – fermented parenting and high mobility – results in the singular experience of the Geographic Cure Child. I then describe my own (cancer-fueled) cure-seeking journey. Lastly, I examine the Geographic Cure writ large, where I contend that the incessant quest for a “cure” monopolizes education. I compare policy-makers in education to cure-seekers who chronically chase after the Next Better Plan.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation (open access)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading
Year dc:date.available
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Nissen, Leslie B.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Daniel Chapman
  • John A. Weaver
  • Mary Aswell Doll

Subjects

dc:subject × 9

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/792
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1795

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Georgia Southern University
Base URL
digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Nissen, Leslie B.. Curriculum and the Life Erratic: The Geographic Cure. Dissertation (open access) thesis, 2012. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/792