Book Review

In her eighth book on education, Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., looks at the issue of school safety. In this exceptionally thorough analysis of the subject, Bluestein pulls focus on the problem by looking at, as she says, "the big picture." Rather than simply looking at serious incidents of violence in schools and trying to understand what went wrong and suggesting solutions, she steps back and looks at the whole environment that makes up our children's experience in school.

"When our vision fails to go beyond the immediacy of the moment," Bluestein says, "our lack of perspective can have serious consequences, particularly with regard to how we respond to the event and the solutions we propose."

By presenting a truly comprehensive look at the biological, psychological, physiological, sociological and philosophical components of schools, Bluestein's book will open readers' eyes to new ways of looking at schools, educators, and children. Though the analysis presented is certainly not light reading, the material is very readable. The organization helps readers along in the process of moving from understanding the individual to the community in an interesting and often entertaining way.

This book is a "must read" for teachers, parents, school board members, and anyone concerned about making schools safer for learning. This book can be found in the education/psychology section of most bookstores. I found my copy at my local Barnes & Noble.