Recognize destructive behavior and cultivate constructive support! The detrimental effect of abusive principal behavior not only deteriorates teacher morale and performance, but also erodes school effectiveness, student learning, and quality of life for everyone involved. Unfortunately, this type of mistreatment―with its devastating implications―has largely been ignored and treated as a taboo subject. In this groundbreaking book, Blase and Blase begin the critical dialogue about abuse by exposing the various manifestations of mistreatment, and offering practical solutions for its prevention and correction. The invaluable information presented is based on findings from the first-of-its-kind study conducted by the authors, in which they interviewed elementary, middle/junior high, and high school teachers from rural, suburban, and urban areas across the United States and Canada. The text masterfully provides the tools necessary to identify destructive behavior and raises awareness of this common phenomenon in order to break the cycle of abuse. It is the crucial first step toward preventing further mistreatment and fostering teacher development, student achievement, and school improvement. Key features include Real-life examples and testimonials - Specific forms and indicators of mistreatment, categorized into three levels - Detailed description of the effects on schools and teachers, professionally and personally - Solutions for overcoming this problem, including six survival skills, "Bullyproofing," "Bullybusting," and other individual, organizational, and legal resolutions  Truly a groundbreaking effort and one that deserves serious attention. -- Don Saul, AASA American Superintendent of the Year, 2000 The book is based on extensive research, loaded with real examples, and it reflects the authors′ concern to improve the conditions of all schools. Because of the book′s comprehensive focus, it will be valuable to practitioners, fledgling administrators, and other educators who are striving to improve the conditions in schoools. -- George E. Pawlas, Professor of Educational Leadership ― The School Administrator, January 2003 Breaking the Silence is the first empirical report of the actual experiences of abused teachers; that is, what constitutes principal mistreatment and its impact on teachers and their work. -- Chicago Union Teacher, May 2003 Blase and Blase sound the alarm on principals’ mistreatment of teachers, and begin the important work of finding constructive solutions. Not just an exposé for the purpose of raising awareness, the book is also a guide, providing practical strategies for preventing and correcting this mistreatment. -- Georgia Association of Teachers (NEA) Newsletter, 2003 Required reading for educators around the country. Long overdue, and finally brings this serious problem to the public’s attention. Phenomenal…every abused teacher’s story on every page. -- American Society for Ethics in Education website The book fell from cyberspace…the answer to our prayers. Blase & Blase have the integrity to reveal what has been a very deep, dark, destructive secret. The descriptors of abuse are so accurate that few teachers could read this book without pits in their stomachs and tears rolling down their eyes. -- National Association for the Prevention of Teacher Abuse website Joseph Blase  is a professor of educational administration at the University of Georgia. Since receiving his Ph.D. in 1980 from Syracuse University, his research has focused on school reform, transformational leadership, the micropolitics of education, principal-teacher relationships, and the work lives of teachers. His work concentrating on school-level micropolitics received the 1988 Davis Memorial Award given by the University Council for Educational Administration, and his coauthored article published in the Journal of Educational Administration won the W. G. Walker 2000 Award for Excellence. In 1999 he was recognized as an elite scholar, one of the 50 Most Productive and Influential Scholars of Educational Administration in the world. Blase’s books include The Politics of Life in Schools: Power, Conflict, and Cooperation (winner of the 1994 Critic’s Choice Award sponsored by the American Education Studies Association), Bringing Out the Best in Teachers (1994, 2000, 2008); The Micropolitics of Educational Leadership (1995), Empowering Teachers (1994, 2000), Democratic Principals in Action (1995), The Fire Is Back (1997), Handbook of Instructional Leadership (1998, 2004), Breaking the Silence (2003), and Teachers Bringing Out the Best in Teachers (2006). His recent research (coauthored with Jo Blase and Du Fengning, 2008), a national study of principal mistreatment of teachers, appeared in The Journal of Educational Administration. Professor Blase has published over 120 academic articles, chapters, and books. Jo Blase is a professor of educational administration at the University of