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Schools using a bullying prevention program saw significantly less physical bullying and fewer teachers reporting fighting as a big problem, according to a study conducted by the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington, to be released this week.
The year-long study, to appear in the Fall 2011 issue of School Psychology Review, was conducted in partnership with Committee for Children, a Seattle-based nonprofit and leading provider of educational programs that teach skills to prevent violence, sexual abuse and bullying.
The study compared schools using Committee for Children's Steps to Respect program, which is used by thousands of schools nationwide to help prevent bullying by creating a safer environment at elementary schools through planning, staff training and teaching students skills for friendship, assertiveness, reporting, and being responsible bystanders.
The study found:
- 33 percent less physical bullying
- 35 percent fewer teachers reporting fighting as a major problem
- 20 percent more staff members reporting that their school is promoting a positive environment
Steps to Respect schools also saw gains in bullying prevention factors such as positive bystander behavior and student climate. There were 33 California elementary schools that participated in the trial. To learn more, visit www.cfchildren.org.
