American children spend a substantial part of their lives watching television and movies, playing video games, and listening to music containing explicit sex and violence. From Doom and Grand Theft Auto III to Eminem and Marilyn Manson, a strain of the popular culture has become increasingly toxic. One of the most pressing—and controversial—issues facing parents and educators in America today is understanding how exposure to these media affects the social and psychological development and behavior of children and teenagers.

In Kid Stuff, Diane Ravitch and Joseph P. Viteritti bring together experts in media studies, child psychology, and public health to assess the dangers posed by "tox pop" to American society. Drawing on thirty years of research, the contributors find convincing evidence that such "entertainment" can harm children and teenagers, despite the self-serving denials of the media industry. Balancing their concerns for the welfare of children with respect for the First Amendment, Kid Stuff furthers the ongoing dialogue about how a democratic society can protect its children from the pernicious extremes of popular media.

Contributors: Craig A. Anderson, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Peter G. Christenson, Edward Donnerstein, Jeanne B. Funk, Todd Gitlin, Kay S. Hymowitz, Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, Nell Minow, Newton Minow, Thomas N. Robinson, Stacy L. Smith

Diane Ravitch is a research professor in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and holds the Brown Chair in Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. She served as Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Education from 1991 to 1993. Her most recent book is The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn. Joseph P. Viteritti is a research professor of public policy in the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. His most recent book is Choosing Equality: School Choice, the Constitution and Civil Society. Together, Ravitch and Viteritti co-chair New York University's Program on Education and Civil Society and have edited three books, including City Schools: Lessons from New York, also available from Johns Hopkins.