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Reducing Hate Crimes and Violence Among American Youth (Counterpoints)

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Teaching & Learning, Summer 2002, Volume 16, Number 3 , pp. 107-108
Volume 16, Number 3 (Summer 2002)
Review: Greg Goodman's Reducing Hate Crimes and Violence Among American Youth
by Sherryl Houdek
Greg Goodman
Reducing Hate Crimes and Violence Among American Youth
New York: Peter Lang Publishing, © 2002
156 pgs.
ISBN 0-8204-5280-7 (paperback)
"Listen, listen to my story" was the beginning of
a long journey that I walked with a former student of
mine many years ago. Those words echoed in my
mind as I began reading Greg Goodman's Reducing
Hate Crimes and Violence Among American Youth.
His book captures the essence of the horrible reality
of the abusive, tragic, and often-unbelievable
"unknown" home life in which many of our
"troubled youth" grow up and mature today.
Having spent eight years as a public school
secondary teacher, six years as a junior/senior high
principal, and six years as a superintendent in both a
public and private school, I have shared many of the
same concerns that Goodman writes about in this
reality-based document.
The book contains stories from several youths--
their words, heart and soul, of their troubled lives.
The youth speak with little emotion, strong
articulation, and a blasé attitude about the life they
live, not only at home but also on the streets and in
schools. Their stories are similar: abusive family
members, single parent families, drugs, alcohol,
poverty, and most often a fight for survival. The
stories told shed a glimmer of hope and light for
educators who need to recognize and deal with the
underlying causes of the problems surrounding our
violent, at-risk youth. The author concludes by
documenting the purpose and need for alternative
education and by seeks our commitment to at-risk
youth.