"In this expose of institutional abuse, Irwin Hyman and Pamela Snook uncover officially authorized violence that far exceeds the number of offenses committed by students. These little researched, frequently ignored practices, the authors passionately argue, are an insidious danger to students' mental health and undermine and distort their understanding and belief in constitutional rights. Parents will learn how to distinguish between normal rules for safety and a violation of students' rights. The authors provide parents with a checklist - including how to document abuse, determine responsibility, file charges, instigate litigation, generate publicity when necessary - and step-by-step strategies for dealing with educational and legal issues, including a broad agenda for legislative and public advocacy."--BOOK JACKET.