Violence Goes to School: Lessons Learned from Columbine.

VIOLENCE GOES TO SCHOOL: Lessons Learned From Columbine. John Nicoletti, Kelly Zinna, and Sally Spencer-Thomas. Bloomington, IN: National Educational Service, 2002. 213 pp. $24.00. Although I opened this book with a feeling of foreboding, I completed it with a feeling of hope. The authors contend that the incidents of children killing children and adults are not as random as they may seem, and some factors may be considered potential predictors of such tragedies. In order to assist readers in identifying clues to possible violence, the writers coin the acronym TOADS, which stands for Time, Opportunity, Ability, Desire, and Stimulus, all of which are relevant to violence in school settings.

The authors, practicing psychologists who have worked as consultants to police and school officials in many parts of the United States, draw upon their experiences and on notable instances of school attacks. The authors make the case that school violence can be understood in much the same way as workplace violence. They discuss the symptomatology of loneliness and anger, and offer suggestions for identifying threats and developing policies to lessen the likelihood of violent episodes.

While teachers and administrators will find the book troubling, it presents a helpful panorama of actions that schools can take to prevent the tragedy of violent student behavior, as well as actions to be taken both during and after such incidents to help schools get back to normal. Reviewed by Thomas M. Gwaltney, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti