NCJ Number
35625
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST SPEAKER DISCUSSES THEORIES OF EDUCATION AND THE SOCIETAL ETIOLOGY OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM; THE SECOND DESCRIBES A LEAA-FUNDED STUDY OF PROGRAMS DEALING WITH THESE PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE FIRST SPEAKER, JOHN HOLT, IS AN AUTHOR IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION WHO BLAMES THE PROFESSIONALIZED ATMOSPHERE IN SPORTS FOR SOME OF THE VIOLENT PROBLEMS IN TODAY'S SCHOOLS. CITING VINCE LOMBARDI, WHO SAID 'WINNING IS THE ONLY THING', THE SPEAKER GOES ON TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF SPORTS, SUCH AS HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, AND OTHERS, IN WHICH IT IS ACCEPTED THAT IF ONE PLAYER CAN HURT ANOTHER WITHOUT BEING DETECTED HE IS TO BE COMMENDED. HIS OTHER POINT IS THAT EDUCATION IS COERCED LEARNING. BASING THIS ARGUMENT ON THE PRIMACY OF THE LEARNING INSTINCT IN ALL HUMANS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ONES, HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE DEGRADING THAN TO BE FORCED TO LEARN IN A CERTAIN WAY. HE BELIEVES THAT TO DO THIS IS TO ATTACK THE INTELLECT WITH A SORT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE. IT IMPARTS TO THE STUDENT THE MOST PROFOUND MESSAGE OF DISTRUST AND CONTEMPT. THE SECOND SPEAKER IS INVOLVED WITH A SURVEY OF PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE DIRECTED AGAINST SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM. THE STUDY STRATEGY WAS FIVE-FOLD. AN ADVANCE COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO KEEP THE EFFORT ON THE RIGHT IDEOLOGICAL TACK. SECOND, A LITERATURE REVIEW WAS CONDUCTED. THEN AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO EXAMINE THE SOLUTIONS THAT WERE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED. FOURTH, WORKING CONFERENCES WERE SET UP IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, AND FINALLY A REVIEW OF EXISTING FEDERAL PROGRAMS WAS UNDERTAKEN. FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES OF TAPES FROM THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM CONFERENCE, SEE NCJ-35621, 3562335627, 35629-35635, 35637, 35638, AND 35640-35645.