Heard on the street

"I think that the vast majority of school districts in America will not mobilize until after they have a crisis."

--School psychologist Rich Lieberman of the Los Angeles Unified School District on the fact that California school districts have scaled back the number of psychologists and counseling personnel at schools, despite national problems with school violence (Associated Press, May 15).

"We underestimate the power of media in terms of setting social norms. Whoever tells the stories defines the culture. And I think, as we invite story tellers into our homes, whether it's Internet, television, videos, video games, we have to become more educated as to how we are going to manage those."

--Psychologist David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family on the influence of the entertainment industry on youth violence (PBS's "MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour," May 10).

"We live in a competitive society and [people don't] want to feel that their child is going to be left out, or worse, left behind. Parents...see this as very tangible evidence that they care about their children."

--Educational psychologist Istar Schwager, PhD, of New York City on why some parents are willing to endure hours of store-hopping and waiting in line to buy their children the latest Pokemon toy. (Washington Post, June 7).

"It's a matter of psychopathology. Movies and videogames don't turn good kids bad; bad kids are dangerous long before they watch their first gorefest."

--Clinical psychologist Jonathan Kellerman, an author of psychological thrillers, on his position that some children are predisposed to assault others, regardless of whether they're exposed to media violence. (Wall Street Journal, June 9).

"Children who have good relationships with child-care teachers leave child care expecting to have a positive relationship with their schoolteacher[s]. They're also the kinds of children that teachers like because they're interested, they're sociable and they often like to learn. Child care just sets them up well."

--Development psychologist Carollee Howes of UCLA on the findings of the national "Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study" that quality day care boosts school performance, particularly for at-risk children, through second grade (Seattle Times, June 9).

Heard in the Monitor

"If we understand the sadness in boys, we'll deal with that sadness and not wait to have to cope with their aggression."

--James Garbarino of the Family Life Development Center at Cornell University on his belief that many boys behave aggressively because they're taught to deny their emotions, page 39.



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