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Attachment behaviour and the schoolchild. An introduction to educational therapy
208
BOOK REVIEWS
Psychiatric In-Patient Care of Children and Adolescents: A Multi-Cultural Approach. Robert L. Hendrun and Irving N. Berlin (Eds.). New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1991, pp. 330 + xix. Price E36. A major justification made for this book by the publishers is the sharp increase in the number and scope of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units in North America. This makes a startling contrast to the situation in Britain where we have almost the converse with, perhaps not a sharp decline, but certainly a very steady one over the last 10 years. The editors feel, rightly, that there is a dearth of written material on in-patient units and the publishers appear to claim that this is the first in the field. This sadly ignores Barker’s important book (Barker, 1974) but it is fair to say that there have been many changes since that was published. The 13 contributors to this volume, drawn from most of the professions to be found working in in-patient units deal with a wide range of issues which face all in this field. The major strength of the book, however, is the emphasis it places on multi-cultural issues. The majority of the authors work in new Mexico and their clientele are a mixture of Anglo, Hispanic and American Indian children and their families. Throughout there are anecdotes and discussions of the importance of paying attention to the enormous potential conflicts which can occur when professionals from one culture ignore the expectations and values of those they are seeking to help. For this aspect alone the book can be highly recommended to any who work in residential settings with adolescents. In addition there are good accounts of more general topics such as the role of particular treatments and of the milieu in helping the patients. A further area which I am sure will soon become routine in any similar books published in this country is a section on administrative issues. I felt a strong tinge of disquiet as I read of “the necessity in today’s competitive hospital market to provide excellent patient care and financial solvency”. It does, however, look as though this is the way we are going and for this reason too I would recommend that this book is available in any in-patient or residential unit for children and adolescents. Barker, P. (1974). The Residential Lockwood Staples.
Psychiatric
Treatment of Children. London: Crosby
(Maudsley
Stephen Wolkind Hospital, London.)
Attachment Behaviour and the Schoolchild. An Introduction to Educational Muriel Barrett and Jane Trevitt. Routledge, 1991. ISBN G-415-04798-6.
Therapy. Al2.99.
This very much overdue book introduces Educational Therapy, an intervention that addresses the emotional and cognitive needs of children who have lost their capacity to learn. Educational Therapy has evolved from the exciting, and invaluable pioneering work of Irene Caspari at the Tavistock Clinic in the 1960s with
BOOK
209
REVIEWS
children with seemingly the most intractable learning/reading difficulties to a valuable discipline with its own training for teachers who wish to be provided with means of engaging such children in a fruitful learning process in a 1 : 1 or small group situation, supported by well established psychodynamic theories, drawing particularly on the work of Bowlby and Winnicott. Bowlby’s Attachment and Loss and Winnicott’s The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment offer the underlying principles from which Educational Therapy has emerged: these are very clearly and simply explained in this book so that we gradually discover something of the quality of understanding and attitude involved in the therapist’s patient work, illustrated by some fascinating case presentations. An ample introduction to the kind of teaching techniques and appropriate materials used in Educational Therapy is given, and are of enormous value to all teachers of children with learning problems. But, above all, it is the understanding which is offered in considering children’s resistance to learning and their difficulties in taking the necessary risks in order to make an emotional investment in learning which makes this book and Educational Therapy so enormously important. This is especially so at a time when so many children’s learning problems can be seen to be associated with difficulties in early life relationships. I found this a most welcome and stimulating relief from so many books on reading difficulties and dyslexia, which have tended to provide rather sad, mechanistic explanations of such problems with an emphasis on the “what” should be done. This book indicates not only the “what” (i.e. materials and techniques) needs to be done to help the failed child, but also the “how” and “why”, without which both the skill and pleasure of becoming literate, and the opportunities which these in turn may offer through feeling able to take responsibility for one’s learning, may become lost. Philip Maggs
The Anatomy of Adolescence. Adrian Furnham and Barrie 1989. No price given. Young People’s Understanding of Society. Adrian Furnham 1991. ElO.99.
Gunter.
Routledge,
and Barrie
Stacey,
The world of social and political institutions (and their norms) is the world in which young people live. But what do we know of their attitudes towards, and beliefs about, this social world? The answer, in terms of books available, is remarkably little. Routledge with two recent works has set out to remedy our ignorance of how adolescents see these matters. Our guide, the first author in both cases, is Adrian Furnham, a psychologist, who seems completely at ease with topics such as party politics, the government and law of Britain, economic forces, employment, class and racial issues, religion and social relationships. He sets out to discover the extent to which young people are also at home with these matters.
BOOK REVIEWS
Psychiatric In-Patient Care of Children and Adolescents: A Multi-Cultural Approach. Robert L. Hendrun and Irving N. Berlin (Eds.). New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1991, pp. 330 + xix. Price E36. A major justification made for this book by the publishers is the sharp increase in the number and scope of child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units in North America. This makes a startling contrast to the situation in Britain where we have almost the converse with, perhaps not a sharp decline, but certainly a very steady one over the last 10 years. The editors feel, rightly, that there is a dearth of written material on in-patient units and the publishers appear to claim that this is the first in the field. This sadly ignores Barker’s important book (Barker, 1974) but it is fair to say that there have been many changes since that was published. The 13 contributors to this volume, drawn from most of the professions to be found working in in-patient units deal with a wide range of issues which face all in this field. The major strength of the book, however, is the emphasis it places on multi-cultural issues. The majority of the authors work in new Mexico and their clientele are a mixture of Anglo, Hispanic and American Indian children and their families. Throughout there are anecdotes and discussions of the importance of paying attention to the enormous potential conflicts which can occur when professionals from one culture ignore the expectations and values of those they are seeking to help. For this aspect alone the book can be highly recommended to any who work in residential settings with adolescents. In addition there are good accounts of more general topics such as the role of particular treatments and of the milieu in helping the patients. A further area which I am sure will soon become routine in any similar books published in this country is a section on administrative issues. I felt a strong tinge of disquiet as I read of “the necessity in today’s competitive hospital market to provide excellent patient care and financial solvency”. It does, however, look as though this is the way we are going and for this reason too I would recommend that this book is available in any in-patient or residential unit for children and adolescents. Barker, P. (1974). The Residential Lockwood Staples.
Psychiatric
Treatment of Children. London: Crosby
(Maudsley
Stephen Wolkind Hospital, London.)
Attachment Behaviour and the Schoolchild. An Introduction to Educational Muriel Barrett and Jane Trevitt. Routledge, 1991. ISBN G-415-04798-6.
Therapy. Al2.99.
This very much overdue book introduces Educational Therapy, an intervention that addresses the emotional and cognitive needs of children who have lost their capacity to learn. Educational Therapy has evolved from the exciting, and invaluable pioneering work of Irene Caspari at the Tavistock Clinic in the 1960s with
BOOK
209
REVIEWS
children with seemingly the most intractable learning/reading difficulties to a valuable discipline with its own training for teachers who wish to be provided with means of engaging such children in a fruitful learning process in a 1 : 1 or small group situation, supported by well established psychodynamic theories, drawing particularly on the work of Bowlby and Winnicott. Bowlby’s Attachment and Loss and Winnicott’s The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment offer the underlying principles from which Educational Therapy has emerged: these are very clearly and simply explained in this book so that we gradually discover something of the quality of understanding and attitude involved in the therapist’s patient work, illustrated by some fascinating case presentations. An ample introduction to the kind of teaching techniques and appropriate materials used in Educational Therapy is given, and are of enormous value to all teachers of children with learning problems. But, above all, it is the understanding which is offered in considering children’s resistance to learning and their difficulties in taking the necessary risks in order to make an emotional investment in learning which makes this book and Educational Therapy so enormously important. This is especially so at a time when so many children’s learning problems can be seen to be associated with difficulties in early life relationships. I found this a most welcome and stimulating relief from so many books on reading difficulties and dyslexia, which have tended to provide rather sad, mechanistic explanations of such problems with an emphasis on the “what” should be done. This book indicates not only the “what” (i.e. materials and techniques) needs to be done to help the failed child, but also the “how” and “why”, without which both the skill and pleasure of becoming literate, and the opportunities which these in turn may offer through feeling able to take responsibility for one’s learning, may become lost. Philip Maggs
The Anatomy of Adolescence. Adrian Furnham and Barrie 1989. No price given. Young People’s Understanding of Society. Adrian Furnham 1991. ElO.99.
Gunter.
Routledge,
and Barrie
Stacey,
The world of social and political institutions (and their norms) is the world in which young people live. But what do we know of their attitudes towards, and beliefs about, this social world? The answer, in terms of books available, is remarkably little. Routledge with two recent works has set out to remedy our ignorance of how adolescents see these matters. Our guide, the first author in both cases, is Adrian Furnham, a psychologist, who seems completely at ease with topics such as party politics, the government and law of Britain, economic forces, employment, class and racial issues, religion and social relationships. He sets out to discover the extent to which young people are also at home with these matters.