Hidden Dangers: Subtle Signs of Failing Schools

by Betsy Gunzelmann

Overview

Betsy Gunselmann identifies the roadblocks that contribute to failing schools. These subtle school issues appear to unintentionally reinforce an increase in school related violence, diagnoses of learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, and other behavioral and emotional problems, and meager attainment of basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. By developing a strong foundation of the needs for a healthy school climate and challenging and changing faulty assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, policies, and practices that guide failing schools, the author deftly offers a solution for changing failing schools into thriving schools.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578866908
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	10/15/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.53(w) x 8.56(h) x 0.44(d)

About the Author

Betsy Gunzelmann is chair of psychology at Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Reader’s Note

Acknowledgments

Part One: The Complexity of Education: Conceptualization of Hidden Dangers

1 Understanding Hidden Dangers is More Complicated than Ever!

2 Cutting Edge Updates: Research-Based Education What We Can and Must Do!

3 A Necessary Foundation to Identify Hidden Dangers

4 Understanding Hidden Dangers: Is This Your School?

Part Two: Specific Hidden Dangers

5 Hidden Assumptions, Attitudes and Procedures

6 Hidden Dangers in Testing

7 Hidden Dangers in Labeling

8 Hidden Dangers: Racial, Socio-Economic and Gender Inequities in Our Schools

9 Hidden Dangers: Paradoxical Safety Problems in Our Schools

10 Hidden Dangers in Our School Buildings

Part Three: Hope and Change for Our Schools

11 Safe and Healthy School Climates

12 Transcending Hidden Dangers for All Children

References

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Betsy Gunzelmann's Hidden Dangers is at the same time a lovely and yet forceful examination of one of America's most pressing and vexing issues. With straightforward, even kindly prose, Professor Gunzelmann enlightens us on the matters of the crises in our schools, offers beautiful interpretations, and even more, solutions to the problems she addresses. Her book emerges as a primer in a significant field of educational psychology. It ought to be required reading for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, which means just about all of us.

Thomas J. Cottle

In Hidden Dangers: Subtle Signs of Failing Schools Betsy Gunzelmann presents a fresh and unique perspective at the conditions and climate of our schools. With the analytical skills, shaped by her experiences as a psychotherapist, she systematically examines the journey that too many of our children travel towards mediocrity and failure. Her disciplined approach, informed and shaped by her role as college professor, creates a context by which the not-so-obvious signs of danger challenging the well-being of our academic enterprise can be examined. Yet while analytic skills and research strength serve her well, it is the compassion of a teacher that is the heart of this book. Difficult issues examined and possible solutions recommended. Dr. Gunzelman is clearly not an uninvolved bystander. [This book] is her wake-up call for all who care about our schools and what goes in them.

Dr. Francis Doucette

Betsy Gunzelmann, (educator and psychologist) will be regarded as a prophet speaking of ways to save our ailing educational system. She uncovers some surprising hidden dangers in our schools, AND provides us with remedies to fix them! This is a book that needed to be written; the issues it unveils will be on both Democratic and Republican Education platforms in 2008.

Diane Connell

The level of anxiety about our children's schooling needs some grounding. Betsy Gunzelmann's book helps us be more specific about the real dangers—which aren't because we have the wrong kids, parents or teachers, but because we increasingly reinvent ways to cripple schools, and thus kids, by unexamined assumptions. She neatly and deftly lays them out chapter by chapter.

Deborah Meier

Betsy Gunzelmann's Hidden Dangers is at the same time a lovely and yet forceful examination of one of America's most pressing and vexing issues. With straightforward, even kindly prose, Professor Gunzelmann enlightens us on the matters of the crises in our schools, offers beautiful interpretations, and even more, solutions to the problems she addresses. Her book emerges as a primer in a significant field of educational psychology. It ought to be required reading for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, which means just about all of us.Betsy Gunzelmann's Hidden Dangers is at the same time a lovely and yet forceful examination of one of America's most pressing and vexing issues. With straightforward, even kindly prose, Professor Gunzelmann enlightens us on the matters of the crises in our schools, offers beautiful interpretations, and even more, solutions to the problems she addresses. Her book emerges as a primer in a significant field of educational psychology. It ought to be required reading for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, which means just about all of us.

Thomas J. Cottle Thomas J. Cottle

This book is one people have been waiting for though they may not always have known it. It meets the needs of parents who may not have realized there are alternatives other than those they've been offered, and questions not always recognized or addressed. It is also a book for teachers, who have seen situations but might not recognize the fullness of what they may entail; or, who have felt they were more alone than there was need to be. Perhaps, even more so this is a book for administrators, superintendents, and members of school boards, or of government—the people charged with developing processes and procedures. Dr. Gunzelmann gives them questions to consider, options to pursue, and ways to respond respectfully and effectively to essential issues, ones overlooked to the disadvantage of all.

Michael Noonan