Customer Reviews

Breaking the Silence: Overcoming the Problem of Principal Mistreatment of Teachers

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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.

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?

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

Unfortunately, this book is dead on right in the sick treatment that some teachers get from their principal's. My wife is a teacher who has had to go through this treatment, and it was like a checklist for all the mistreatment she has gone through the past 2 years. This book was helpful to her, because she was able to see that she is not the terrible teacher her principals would like to make her believe. This book is a must for any teacher who is being observed for their evaluation. I can only hope administrators in our schools will see how workplace harassment creates a negative environment that hurts our children and the teachers who genuinely want them to succeed. Reading this book should be required reading for every school superintendent and school board member.

First, if Blase really was up for "breaking the silence," he would've laid down these tips on wax, yo. Second, the only thing teachers ever asked of anyone at my school was to not break the silence, particularly when principals were involved. Third, it's nice to see teachers's advocates going straight to the Ministry of Cliches when defending their wards - a gold star for all involved in choosing this tome's provocative title!