Review by Choice Review
The authors begin with theoretical reviews of bullying and adolescent development, followed by descriptions of educational settings and how school personnel may unintentionally contribute to a bullying culture. The "whole-school" approach is presented as a comprehensive system for counteracting the bullying culture. The approach is described in detail, using case studies for illustration of major principles and techniques. The "no blame" approach is prescribed for teachers and other school personnel, and step-by-step instructions are provided for setting up a "safe school" in both policy and procedure. Techniques for working with students are incorporated into existing curricula, and specific techniques using the peer group and experiential learning are presented in detail. For example, bystanders to the bullying problem are taught to become involved via leadership seminars, and "Social Theater" role plays are used to enhance empathy and support for victims. Instructions for setting up a peer mentoring program from initial training through ongoing maintenance are also included. Examples of questionnaires, worksheets, and school policy documents are included in appendixes. This is an invaluable resource for professionals interested in preventing or decreasing the incidence of bullying in educational settings. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduate collections and above. M. F. Russo Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
