The title of this book, ‘Lost at School’, belies its scope and power and whilst it might sound like a classic psycho-novel moving up the best seller charts, it isn’t fiction.
Do children really need to conform?
Infinitely more important than the subject, ‘the book’Lost at School’ gets to the heart of the human condition and how we view those who don’t conform. Whilst its focus is on young people in the US school system who have challenging behaviours, it extends into all societies, family, what we call education and progressing into the world. Ross Greene challenges yet supports us as we move through the stages of discovering universal issues encouraging anyone who has to deal with people of any age who struggle in one way or another.
Some fall through the cracks
The author not only talks about those ‘who are falling through the cracks’, but the ‘why and how’ this happens. Better still, he offers hope and a healing approach that is beneficial to everyone. Sounds too good to be true? It may be, except it depends on us to read, learn and, if possible, apply. In the process, we are not directed but will inevitably reflect on ourselves and our own life experiences.
Working with those who are close to falling through the cracks – or those who did fall -, Ross Greene offers us the tried and tested problem-solving tools he has developed over the past forty or so years of his experience as a clinical psychologist. It is not the cracks themselves that define people, cracks will appear anyway in all upbringing, education, work and living. It is what we do about it. Green explores how we identify the reason people might fall and how we address those reasons, so that they are supported and don’t fall. Better still, it uplifts us all, even if we don’t recognise it straight away. His style is ‘comfortable’, easy to follow without having to do intellectual high jumps. We get the impression that he cares deeply and is on your side.
On a personal note, I’m long in the tooth and my experience of UK schooling is in the distant past, but I’m still dealing with some of the cracks. This book will join with me on my journey. I heartily recommend it.
