Who’s Afraid of the Bad Guys?

As a young teacher, Jane Katch was mentored by Vivian Paley. Katch watched how Paley turned puzzling issues into exciting explorations. Later in her own class, Katch became intrigued by the violent imaginative games that a group of boys were playing. Following Paley’s example, Katch immersed herself in trying to examine the play rather than to prohibit it summarily. By helping her young students clarify how they felt about their games and then come up with rules for their own security, she enabled them to express their feelings to others and to make compromises that would facilitate safe and joyful play.