Public School Safety: A Handbook with a Resource Guide » (1st Edition)

This book explores what administrators and other school officials can do to keep their schools and students safe. It considers federal and state government legislation and initiatives designed to reduce youth violence in schools, and presents model programs that can be implemented in elementary, middle, and high schools. Hester taught public school and served as a public school administrator. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

School Library Journal

An extremely useful tool for exploring and understanding the complexities of making schools safe. It begins by discussing a number of important government reports that have identified the problems and causes of youth violence and some ideas for combating it. Summaries of initiatives at the federal and state level in recent years are provided. The myriad strategies involving the community, parents, and teachers are discussed and both ineffective and effective programs are evaluated, including DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), which the Surgeon General's research team categorized as "Does Not Work." Several programs identified as promising or successful models for dealing with aggression, fighting, and bullying are highlighted along with the U.S. Departments of Justice's and Education's action plan for safer schools. The author elaborates on creating a culture of leadership that helps children to make ethical choices, develop problem-solving skills, and build character through service as a way for society to promote school safety. The final chapter consists of an annotated list of primarily national and state resources that address youth violence in the schools, from assistance with grant writing to statistical data. This is a solid and thorough guide to a subject that is of great concern to educators, parents, students, and the community at large.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.