School Discipline and School Violence: The Teacher Variance Approach

As a person who values options in discipline, this book is terrrifc because the author aligns major theoretical perspectives with reasons for a child's behavior or misbehavior. Dr. I. Hyman, a reputable child psychologist/researcher, describes useful methods which can help both parents and teachers identify their own patterns of discipline, which may or may not include techniques such as punishment. I like the book for what it is; a no non-sense approach to understanding how and why, we as teachers or parents, respond the way we do to a child's behavior. Hyman provides some terrific scenarios demonstrating these approaches. Also, folks who highly support the right to hit their children may not like what the author has to say since he provides other options for discipline, including reinforcement, investigation of the environmental setting, and understanding WHY a child behaves a certain way. This info is useful since professionals in the medical and psychological professions agree (as is seen in their organizational position statements) that there is little place for corporal punishment in our schools. It's worth it to take a look at other options which have proven to be more effective, and this book provides a curious, open-minded reader with an opportunity to do so.