3 Formal Education
-
Jack Levin
Abstract
This chapter takes a close look at patterns of covert violence within U.S. schools. There is an unusually large number of middle-aged U.S. teachers (with no previously known serious medical problems) who have suffered sudden health emergencies—including death—in their classrooms, as well as numerous cases of students who have inserted a harmful substance (for example, cleaning fluids, eyedrops, or nail polish) into their teacher’s unattended water bottle or coffee cup. These patterns became apparent only in recent decades, after a profound shift in school discipline in the United States that simultaneously seems to have empowered disgruntled students to feel entitled to enact revenge against any teacher who made them angry. Yet, retaliation via overt methods is generally futile, as students have a severe power deficit compared to teachers. In addition to multiple examples of student-perpetrators, this chapter includes examples of other powerless school employees who covertly targeted supervisors (for example, a custodian in one case and a bus driver in another) and explains why the incidence of covert violence is far lower in higher-education settings.
Abstract
This chapter takes a close look at patterns of covert violence within U.S. schools. There is an unusually large number of middle-aged U.S. teachers (with no previously known serious medical problems) who have suffered sudden health emergencies—including death—in their classrooms, as well as numerous cases of students who have inserted a harmful substance (for example, cleaning fluids, eyedrops, or nail polish) into their teacher’s unattended water bottle or coffee cup. These patterns became apparent only in recent decades, after a profound shift in school discipline in the United States that simultaneously seems to have empowered disgruntled students to feel entitled to enact revenge against any teacher who made them angry. Yet, retaliation via overt methods is generally futile, as students have a severe power deficit compared to teachers. In addition to multiple examples of student-perpetrators, this chapter includes examples of other powerless school employees who covertly targeted supervisors (for example, a custodian in one case and a bus driver in another) and explains why the incidence of covert violence is far lower in higher-education settings.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Figures and Tables iv
- About the Authors v
- Acknowledgments vii
- An Introduction to Covert Violence, Power, and Social Institutions 1
- Family and Close Relationships 22
- Formal Education 47
- The Workplace 62
- Politics and Government 74
- Healthcare 90
- Mass Media 104
- Shining Light on the Shadows 116
- Case Summaries 131
- Index 148
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Figures and Tables iv
- About the Authors v
- Acknowledgments vii
- An Introduction to Covert Violence, Power, and Social Institutions 1
- Family and Close Relationships 22
- Formal Education 47
- The Workplace 62
- Politics and Government 74
- Healthcare 90
- Mass Media 104
- Shining Light on the Shadows 116
- Case Summaries 131
- Index 148
