Mass Hysteria in Schools: A Worldwide History Since 1566

by Robert E. Bartholomew, Bob Rickard

Overview

This book comprehensively surveys the colorful history of mass hysteria and kindred phenomena in schools, documenting outbreaks of demonic possession during witchcraft scares, to modern incidents of collapsing bands, itching frenzies, ghost panics and mystery illnesses.

Strange behaviors and illnesses in students are examined through the centuries. Possessed children went into trance states and began to bark like dogs in 16th and 17th century Holland; an epidemic of twitching, trembling and blackout spells swept through European schools during the latter 1800s; an outbreak of Tourette's-like symptoms struck schoolgirls in western New York in 2011-12. In addition to the US and Europe, separate chapters detail accounts from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. A variety of theories to explain outbreaks are examined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476614267
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	01/23/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	236
File size:	690 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Robert E. Bartholomew has taught sociology in Australia at The Flinders University of South Australia and James Cook University in Queensland. A former radio journalist and contributor to the Associated Press and United Press International, he teaches at Botany College in Auckland, New Zealand. Bob Rickard founded Fortean Times, a monthly periodical for balanced reporting and discussion of anomalies in most fields, including those studying behavior, experience and belief, in late November 1973 and edited it for the next 28 years. He continues to contribute research, articles and reports on unusual topics in his semi-retirement. He lives in London, England.
Robert E. Bartholomew has taught sociology in Australia at The Flinders University of South Australia and James Cook University in Queensland. A former broadcast journalist and contributor to news organizations such as the Associated Press and United Press International, he currently teaches at Botany College in Auckland, New Zealand.
Bob Rickard founded Fortean Times, a monthly periodical for balanced reporting and discussion of anomalies in most fields, including those studying behavior, experience and belief, in late November 1973 and edited it for the next 28 years. He continues to contribute research, articles and reports on unusual topics in his semi-retirement. He lives in London, England.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword by Glenn Dawes
Introduction
1. Witch Hunts and Schoolchildren
2. Twitching Epidemics and Pregnancy Panics: Historic Tales from Europe and America
3. Fear 101—Fates Worse Than Homework: Modern Tales from East and West
4. The Demon-Haunted Classroom: Tales from Asia
5. The Students Who Laughed for a Week: Accounts from Africa
6. The Meowing Schoolgirls of Fiji: Accounts from the Islands
7. Strange Tales from Latin America
8. Strange Schoolyards and Unusual Field Trips: Cases from Beyond the Classroom
9. Global Lessons
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

this historical metaanalysis provides an invaluable, accessible medical and sociological perspective on what continues to be a very common occurrence: mass hysteria among schoolchildren worldwide...an engaging and informative read...a thoroughly entertaining book”—ForteanTimes.

From the Publisher

this historical metaanalysis provides an invaluable, accessible medical and sociological perspective on what continues to be a very common occurrence: mass hysteria among schoolchildren worldwide...an engaging and informative read...a thoroughly entertaining book

ForteanTimes