Jackie Harrop on recent books for teachers and parents

Philip Garner rightly challenges the effectiveness of current approaches to children with behaviour problems, and has collected some telling comments from pupils themselves. But his critical and rather academic tone is unlikely to win converts or change attitudes. There are some useful pointers for curriculum change and pupil participation, and the final chapter on excluded children highlights both the challenges facing teachers and the need for changes to break the cycle of underachievement and failure of far too many young people.