[.ca] Cliques: Eight Steps to Help Your Child Survive the ... (ISBN 0767906535)

From Amazon.com:
Cliques has a twofold message: things are much worse in middle school than you think, and as a parent, there are specific steps you can and should take to make the situation better. The first claim is unnecessary--we all know that cruel stuff happens to kids in junior high school--but the authors go on to give advice about how to help your child survive. The book addresses two different phenomena: bullying and cliques. The latter (those impenetrable social castes that admit and exclude children at whim) often employ "the fourth R--ridicule" to devastate the self-esteem of those who are "out." This tormenting of peers is not only random and cruel but also often criminal. The book is divided into eight "steps," each a practical lesson, such as "Help Your Child Belong" and "Empower Your Victim." The sections end with a short, practical list of "Things You Can Do" (e.g., "Work on reducing the conflicts that disrupt your family") and "Things You Cannot Do" (e.g., "Make your child more popular"). The final step, "Lobby for Change," contains some practical advice on what you can do to make schools into kinder, gentler places. It is heartening to hear that programs set up and run by savvy, big-hearted kids have been some of the most effective in addressing the issues. --Richard Farr

girls are bullies too!:
When I saw this title turned outward at a local bookstore, I thought hmmm, okay I will take a look. I'd say it is a must read for all parents and teachers as well. Believe it or not, these are daily occurances in our schools and they are robbing our children of self esteem and a healthy learning environment if we don't educate ourselves to the social problems and intervene when necessary. My daughter is a 6th grader this year and this book eerily told the story that is happening in her class right now. It helped me to explain to her that she is not dreaming--these scenarios are real and we can survive them. Bullies are everywhere and very powerful...and yes, they can be girls...take my word for it parents and read this book. It will empower you to help your child do for herself what ultimately she will have to do for a lifetime and that is survive the individuals that bully and use social status for manuevering through life.

girls are bullies too!:
When I saw this title turned outward at a local bookstore, I thought hmmm, okay I will take a look. I'd say it is a must read for all parents and teachers as well. Believe it or not, these are daily occurances in our schools and they are robbing our children of self esteem and a healthy learning environment if we don't educate ourselves to the social problems and intervene when necessary. My daughter is a 6th grader this year and this book eerily told the story that is happening in her class right now. It helped me to explain to her that she is not dreaming--these scenarios are real and we can survive them. Bullies are everywhere and very powerful...and yes, they can be girls...take my word for it parents and read this book. It will empower you to help your child do for herself what ultimately she will have to do for a lifetime and that is survive the individuals that bully and use social status for manuevering through life.

Safe Schools?:
There is a wild animal that prowls around attacking children at my daughter's school . School officials can't do anything to stop it because its attacks seldom pierce the skin. But it is not unusual to find victims weeping in a corner asking "Why...?" Occasionally we can see that it was attracted by their clothes, or realize that it sensed they were weak, but sometimes we can only shake our heads. Charlene Gianetti has studied this creature--the social clique--and found that it must have blood in order to survive. In her book--"Cliques: 8 Steps to Help Your Child Survive the Social Jungle", she explains how these groups of school children are formed and the effects they have on the kids who are in them as well as on the children they exclude. At the core are 2 or 3 dominant children, she says. They manage to attract others who hover at the edges of the group, giving it substance and power. However, there must be outsiders in order for the clique to survive--people who can be taunted and blamed. Members realize that the unpleasant things they are doing to other children can be done to them, too, if they leave. Giannetti also tells parents how they can help their children who are caught in this situation or even worse, who are the attackers!

An Absolute MUST read for parents and teachers:
This is the most important book on the social jungle that I have seen. I have taught school for 20 years and have a 14 year old daughter and a 10 year old son... I have read lots of books. This one should be required reading for teachers. The crises that are occurring in schools today can absolutely be traced to the clique behavior described in this book. It's time to open our eyes and recognize what is going on. This book gets the point across and gets started on doing something about it.

Absolutely necessary in today's confusing world:
I actually have not read this book, but the authors came to my school and gave a talk about the book. I think that cliques are horrible, and this book educates us about the dangers they have and why we should stop them. As soon as I can, I'm going to try to find a copy of this and read it.