Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers [Paperback]

Joseph Blase (Author), Jo R. Blase (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761977724 | ISBN-13: 978-0761977728 | Publication Date: August 15, 2002

This groundbreaking book exposes the various manifestations and effects of abuse and offers practical solutions for its prevention and correction. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

Truly a groundbreaking effort and one that deserves serious attention. (Don Saul, AASA American Superintendent of the Year, 2000 )

The book is based on extensive research, loaded with real examples, and it reflects the authors' concern to improve the conditions of all schools. Because of the book's comprehensive focus, it will be valuable to practitioners, fledgling administrators, and other educators who are striving to improve the conditions in schoools. (George E. Pawlas, Professor of Educational Leadership The School Administrator, January 2003 )

Breaking the Silence is the first empirical report of the actual experiences of abused teachers; that is, what constitutes principal mistreatment and its impact on teachers and their work. (Chicago Union Teacher, May 2003 )

Blase and Blase sound the alarm on principals’ mistreatment of teachers, and begin the important work of finding constructive solutions. Not just an exposé for the purpose of raising awareness, the book is also a guide, providing practical strategies for preventing and correcting this mistreatment.                     (Georgia Association of Teachers (NEA) Newsletter, 2003 )

Required reading for educators around the country.

Long overdue, and finally brings this serious problem to the public’s attention.
 
Phenomenal…every abused teacher’s story on every page.  (American Society for Ethics in Education website )

The book fell from cyberspace…the answer to our prayers.

Blase & Blase have the integrity to reveal what has been a very deep, dark, destructive secret.

The descriptors of abuse are so accurate that few teachers could read this book without pits in their stomachs and tears rolling down their eyes.   (National Association for the Prevention of Teacher Abuse website )

About the Author

Jo Blase is a professor of educational administration at the University of Georgia, and a former public school teacher, high school and middle school principal, and director of staff development. She received a Ph.D. in educational administration, curriculum, and supervision in 1983 from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her research has focused on instructional and transformational leadership, school reform, staff development, and principal-teacher relationships. Through work with the Beginning Principal Study National Research Team, the Georgia League of Professional Schools, and public and private school educators with whom she consults throughout the United States and abroad, she has pursued her interest in preparation for and entry to educational and instructional leadership as it relates to supervisory discourse.

Winner of the W. G. Walker 2000 Award for Excellence for her coauthored article published in the Journal of Educational Administration, the University of Georgia College of Education Teacher Educator Award, the University of Colorado School of Education Researcher/Teacher of the Year, and the American Association of School Administrators Outstanding Research Award, Blase has published in international handbooks and journals such as The Journal of Staff Development, The Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, Educational Administration Quarterly, and The Alberta Journal of Educational Research; her eight book editions include Empowering Teachers (1994, 2000), Democratic Principals in Action (1995), The Fire Is Back (1997), Handbook of Instructional Leadership (1998, 2004), Breaking the Silence (2003), and Teachers Bringing Out the Best in Teachers (2006).

Blase has authored chapters on becoming a principal, school renewal, supervision, and organizational development; her recent research examines the problem of teacher mistreatment. She has published over 90 academic articles, chapters, and books, and she also conducts research on supervisory discourse among physicians as medical educators and consults with physicians in US hospitals and medical centers.

Joseph Blase is a professor of educational administration at the University of Georgia. Since receiving his Ph.D. in 1980 from Syracuse University, his research has focused on school reform, transformational leadership, the micropolitics of education, principal-teacher relationships, and the work lives of teachers. His work concentrating on school-level micropolitics received the 1988 Davis Memorial Award given by the University Council for Educational Administration, and his coauthored article published in the Journal of Educational Administration won the W. G. Walker 2000 Award for Excellence. In 1999 he was recognized as an elite scholar, one of the 50 Most Productive and Influential Scholars of Educational Administration in the world. Blase’s books include The Politics of Life in Schools: Power, Conflict, and Cooperation (winner of the 1994 Critic’s Choice Award sponsored by the American Education Studies Association), Bringing Out the Best in Teachers (1994, 2000, 2008); The Micropolitics of Educational Leadership (1995), Empowering Teachers (1994, 2000), Democratic Principals in Action (1995), The Fire Is Back (1997), Handbook of Instructional Leadership (1998, 2004), Breaking the Silence (2003), and Teachers Bringing Out the Best in Teachers (2006). His recent research (coauthored with Jo Blase and Du Fengning, 2008), a national study of principal mistreatment of teachers, appeared in The Journal of Educational Administration. Professor Blase has published over 120 academic articles, chapters, and books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Corwin Press (August 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761977724
• ISBN-13: 978-0761977728
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #769,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading, October 8, 2002

By 

Mark Twain - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers (Paperback)

The American Society for Ethics in Education (ASEE) STRONGLY ENDORSES "BREAKING THE SILENCE" for use in ALL teacher/administrator training programs, as a tool to assist abused teachers as a healing tool to overcome the intentional devastation inflicted upon them by evil administrators, and as required reading for schools and districts that have been found in violation of abusing teachers by agencies, such as the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

ASEE had the great honor of reviewing this book in advance of its release. Without question, Breaking the Silence is destined to become THE definitive book on the shocking topic of teacher abuse by corrupt and evil (we're using that term in the most literal sense) school administrators. This horrifying look at what is so prevalent in American schools is based upon genuine research, conducted by respected scholars Drs. Joseph and Jo Blase, from the University of Georgia's, College of Education. Their research was conducted over a three year period, using well established and accepted methods. Essentially everything regarding teacher abuse is covered:

* personal (anonymous) testimonies from research subjects (i.e., abused teachers),
* personality characteristics of corrupt administrators and their innocent victims,
* lack of support from district office personnel,
* refusal of most teachers who work in foul environments to reach out to abused colleagues,
*inability for abused teachers to find legal assistance,
* failure of unions to support abused teachers,
*strategies used by corrupt administrators to enlist "support" for their sick behavior through favoritism with certain staff members, and developing "spy" networks (weak-kneed teachers and staff who "snitch" on those that refuse to compromise their ethical behavior),
* suggestions for those who are currently, or have been, in abusive situations,
* the devastating short and long term impact upon teachers' physical/physiological/psychological health, and
* the overwhelming detrimental effects on schools and society.

The list goes on, and on, and on . . . Without question, this book will not only serve to validate the experiences of abused teachers (the number one comment of those writing to ASEE comes from teachers who, until having visited our site, have felt "alone"), but it is also the first serious work on a topic that has long been regarded as "education's dirty little secret" - severe and intentional infliction of evil on highly competent educators. Still not convinced? Guess who wrote the "Forewords" to the book?

Don Saul,
American Association of School Administrator's
Superintendent of the Year (2000)

and

Dr. Gary L. Anderson,
Professor of Educational Administration
California State University, Los Angeles

Certainly, such esteemed educators, both of whom have a vested interest in school administration (and administrators) must have significant and compelling reasons to lend their support to a study that reveals that members of their peer group are among some of the darkest and most evil members of American society. ASEE was founded by teachers to help expose this evil. We salute these educational leaders for displaying the courage to lend significant professional credence to something that both the news media and society in general have continually ignored.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mi, October 21, 2002

By 

James Dunn (Lake Lure, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers (Paperback)

This is a book that needs to be read by every intelligent taxpayer in the United States. Improving education is a frequent topic for both the media and our political leaders. But this book very quietly points out one of the major weaknesses in our educational system. The abuse of teachers by their adminstration and school boards.

Read this book and ask a public school teacher how much of it rings true in your schools.

Teachers are the most valuable link in the value chain. They are also at the bottom the totem pole. What way does excrement run?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 29, 2009

By 

SMHS "Susan" (Tampa, Fl) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers (Paperback)

It's an eye opener, and no it's not just you, there are many people it's happening to, so read on.