Book Reviews : Education for Alienation
| DOI | 10.1177/026455056601200318 |
| Author | Jonathan Moffett |
| Date | 01 September 1966 |
| Published date | 01 September 1966 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
119
structures,
but
also
the
ideas,
the
organ-
isation
and
the
expectations
of
the
sys-
tem.
The
ramshackle
aggregation
of
lock-ups,
jails,
reformatories,
camps,
penitentiaries
was
improvised
from
the
mixed
motives,
speculations
and
the
a
priori
notions
of
the
nineteenth
century.
So,
too,
probation
and
parole
were
brought
into
being
to
improvise
an
ame-
lioration
of
justice.
Because
no
one
has
thought
of
instruments
of
control,
change,
retribution
and
deterrence
which
could
replace
these
social
institutions,
they
survive&dquo;.
The
author
proceeds
to
a
world
wide
survey
of
penal
practice
which
is
distinguished
by
its
penetration,
shrewdness
and
restraint.
It
is
a
rich
and
exhaustive
account
based
almost
en-
tiredly
on
personal
investigation
and
sin-
gles
out
those
features
which
point
the
way
of
progress.
Nowhere
is
his
case
spoilt
by
the
impassioned
plea
of
the
reformer,
by
unjustified
criticism
or
un-
reasoned
claim.
His
own
clear
style
and
perceptive
evaluation
stand
in
marked
con~trast
to
the
haphazard
and
often
un-
justifiable
systems
which
he
describes;
the
&dquo;irrationable
equilibrium&dquo;
in
which
stated
intention
finds
little
expression
in
established
practice.
Mr.
Conrad
is
con-
cerned
that
society
should
re-examine
the
validity
of
its
traditional
unscientific
correctional
system
and
discard
those
parts
of
it
which
are
inconsistent
with
the
end
in
view.
Realism
pervades
his
argument
-
&dquo;The
forces
which
produce
social
change
will
always
deny
us
en-
trance
into
Utopia&dquo;.
His
approach
is
definite
and
constructive
but
probation
does
not
escape
his
telling
comment -
&dquo;In
the
work
of
supervision,
the
officer
is
anonymous,
and
neither
his
successes
nor
his
failures
are
clear-cut.
Within
very
broad
limits
whatever
he
does
is
all
right
and
he
can
be
excused
for
doing
very
little&dquo;.
This
is
an
immensely
important
book,
of
wide
range
and
balanced
judgment
and
is
to
be
particularly
welcomed
at
a
time
when
we
are
taking
a
hard
look
at
our
own
penal
system.
It
reviews
any
significant
development
in
the
penal
field,
and
it
is
refreshing
to
read
one
American
publication
whioh
is
so
lucid
and
unpretentious.
Our
own
problems
and
innovation
are
lent
perspective,
and
of
particular
interest
are
accounts
of
Scandinavian
practice
and
the
treatment
typologies
being
tested
in
California.
The
informed
descriptions
of
other
countries’
probation
systems
add
special
value
to
a
study
which
any
member
of
our
service
would
be
unwise
to
miss.
M. J. DAY
Education
for
Alienation
Nathaniel
Hickerson
Prentice-Hall
16s.
This
book
starts
from
the
assumption
that
public
education
in
America
serves
to
reflect
the
existing
social
and
econ-
omic
order
and
its
injustices.
In
the
author’s
view
the
economically
under-
privileged
tend
to
be
selected
for
lower
streams
’bccause
of
their
non-literate
home
background
on
starting
school,
are
further
discriminated
against
by
the
use
for
streaming
purposes
of
I.Q.
tests
which
do
not
really
measure
innate
ability,
and
are
presented
with
the
alter-
natives
of
rejecting
the
culture
of
their
families
or
rejecting
the
achievement-
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