Purchase
Fears Versus Facts
Lawrence Hill Books
May 2006
On Sale: May 4, 2006
264 pages ISBN: 0805854231 EAN: 9780805854237 Hardcover
Add to Wish List
Non-Fiction
Illustrated with numerous case studies–many drawn from
the author’s work as a forensic psychologist–this book
identifies 19 myths and misconceptions about youth violence,
from ordinary bullying to rampage shootings. It covers
controversial topics such as gun control and the effects of
entertainment violence on children. The author demonstrates
how fear of school violence has resulted in misguided,
counterproductive educational policies and practices ranging
from boot camps to zero tolerance. He reviews evidence from
hundreds of controlled studies showing that school-based
school violence prevention programs and mental health
services, which are largely effective, are often overlooked
in favor of politically popular yet ineffective programs
such as school uniforms, Drug Abuse Resistance Education,
and Scared Straight. He concludes by reviewing some of his
own research on student threat assessment as a more flexible
and less punitive alternative to zero tolerance, and
presents a wide ranging series of recommendations for
improving and expanding the use of school-based violence
prevention programs and mental health services for troubled
students. Key features include the
following: Contrarian
Approach–This book identifies and refutes 19 basic
misconceptions about trends in youth violence and school
safety, and shows how the fear of school violence has been
exaggerated through inaccurate statistics, erroneous
conclusions about youth violence, and over-emphasis on
atypical, sensational cases.
Readability–The book translates scientific,
evidence-based research into language that educators,
parents, law enforcement officers, and policymakers can
readily understand and shows what can be done to improve
things.
Expertise–Dewey Cornell is a forensic
psychologist and Professor of Education at the University of
Virginia, where he holds the Linda K. Bunker Chair in
Education. He is Director of the UVA Youth Violence Project
and is a faculty associate of the Institute of Law,
Psychiatry, and Public Policy. The author of more than 100
publications in psychology and education, he frequently
testifies in criminal proceedings and at legislative
hearings involving violence prevention
efforts. This book is appropriate for courses or
seminars dealing wholly or partly with school violence and
school safety. It is also an indispensable volume for school
administrators and safety officers; local, state, and
national policymakers; involved parents; and academic
libraries serving these groups.
Comments
No comments posted.
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
|