Duck and Cover: Confronting and Correcting Dubious Practices in Education, 2023

In the 1950sand 1960s, students practiced ducking under their desks in case of an atomic bomb attack.  This practice actually provided no protection, and many school practices that are popular today are equally questionable.  The book explores a wide range of what the authors label “duck and cover” policies—ideas that may have started for good reasons but whose usefulness has declined over time.  Ginsberg and Zhao explore how and why these policies were adopted, along with the underlying factors that cause school leaders to maintain them. Recommendations are made for reconsidering, replacing, or just removing these strategies from practice.

Reviewed by Carol Campbell, PhD

Vice President for Education

Southwestern Union Conference

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