Although compulsory schooling intends to develop the potential of all students, some students may actually be harmed by schooling practices. In this book, researchers and practitioners identify and examine various aspects of systemic violence, particularly as it is embedded in administrative and pedagogical practices. Some of these are obvious -- racism, harassment, and child abuse -- however, systemic violence is insidious and may reside in "common sense" practices intended to improve student performance. The authors explore some of these subtle manifestations of violence from a variety of perspectives by investigating school administration policies, pedagogical methods, labeling, classroom interaction, children's games, and teacher reactions to child abuse.
"The information presented is from a perspective that is unique, and the voices are generally clear and strong. I think this is an important addition to the discussion on violence in education and forces readers to look beyond the problem and easy solutions to the societal issues underlying the problem. This helps us to see youth and youth culture more clearly and honestly". -- Ann C. Diver-Stamnes, Humboldt State University