Describes chemical model for patterns of aggressive behavior. Addresses cultural, neurobiological, and cognitive factors that affect violent children. Identifies five patterns of aggression (overaroused, impulsive, affective, predatory, and instrumental) and examines these dimensions of aggression for each pattern: baseline, precipitators,…

Presents Life Space Interview, intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students. Describes use of Massaging Numb Values Life Space Interview, developed to help students in crisis who act out but later become overwhelmed by guilt and remorseful about their destructive behavior. Applies technique to case of 14-year-old girl in…

Presents Life Space Interview, effective intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students, as it was applied to case of Andy, 14-year-old black male student who had been taunting low-functioning deaf student. Describes Andy's background, the incident itself, and the Life Space Interview. Concludes with instructional comments…

Describes international congress on preventing children's behavior disorders that was attended by 600 participants from throughout Europe and beyond. Discusses topics of presentations which reported several theoretical orientations, problem areas, and intervention strategies. Describes prevention program presented at congress. Concluding remarks…

Focuses on Reality Rub Interview, one type of Life Space Interview (LSI), effective intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students. Presents actual Reality Rub Interview, used with students who have "social blindness, social myopia, and tunnel vision" and who, when upset, misinterpret words and behaviors of…

Presents Life Space Interview (LSI), effective intervention strategy for use during crisis work with troubled students, as it was applied to case of eight-year-old boy attending Option III class for emotionally handicapped students when he accompanied class to mall for holiday shopping trip. Following interview are instructional comments on the…

Describes work of Anton Makarenko (1888-1939), Ukrainian educator and youth pioneer considered one of century's great experts on troubled youth. Notes that, although Makarenko claimed to work without theories, he actually used sophisticated interventions that involved cognitive dissonance, paradoxical interventions, and cognitive reframing with…

Describes Green Chimneys, therapeutic residential farm education and treatment center where animals help troubled children and adolescents. Contends that human-animal bond can promote learning and that nurturing animals and receiving back unconditional attention and love reestablishes the worth of the child. Describes residents of the program, a…

Even exemplary special-education programs suffer from bored teachers and students and from over-reliance on traditional teaching and behavior-control methods. Mental health services could be better used to observe children, support and help teachers to develop more effective teaching strategies, help manage crises that arise, and link parents and…

Educators can take several practical steps to increase the success of inclusion for troubled students and their classmates and teachers. The five basic needs of problem students are discussed, along with strategies for meeting their basic needs and dealing with disruptive classroom behavior. (CC)

Describes reclaiming school as one that empowers each student to experience belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity and that challenges any practice that leads to alienation, futility, impotence, or purposelessness among youth. Spotlights innovative programs of empowering education that redefine the standards for excellence in the…

Interviewed 74 students with behavior disorders (BD) to determine their perceptions of what skills regular and BD teachers need. Students requested that teachers learn to be fair and respect students and to be sensitive to students' feelings and develop counseling skills. Other themes dealt with personal qualities, instructional skills, behavior…

Minority students are overrepresented among those labeled emotionally and behaviorally disturbed (EBD). But doing away with special education, under the argument that it is separatist and racist, will not solve the problem of race-segregated students. Lower teacher expectations for minorities is an especially deep-rooted problem that can occur in…

Calls for authentic family-professional collaboration which will develop new visions for children with special needs and new expectations of schools and agencies. Contends that families want to be supported rather than supplanted by professionals and that, if collaboration is to be more than rhetoric, both parties must recognize their rights and…

Notes that many who work with troubled children assume curriculum of control to be necessary. Examines ways in which traditional treatments have fostered greater alienation. Suggests foundations for alternative model rooted in empowerment philosophy rather than obedience. Presents model of youth empowerment based on contemporary developmental…