| Background: The impact of a bullying and violence prevention
program on education attainment was studied in five elementary schools
(K-5), over a 5-year period. Material/Methods: A multiple baseline design
was used and academic attainment test scores of 1,106 students were
monitored before and after the introduction of the program across the
school district. This sample was contrasted with an equivalent control
sample of 1,100 students from the school district who attended schools
that did not join the program. Results: Program participation was
associated with pronounced improvements in the students' achievement test
scores. Notable reductions in the scores of those students who left
schools with active programs were also observed. Conclusions: This simple,
low-cost anti-violence intervention, involves all those who work in
schools, not just students. It appears to significantly benefit
educational performance of children in the participating elementary
schools. The program focuses attention on the interaction between the
bully, victim and audience of bystanders who are seen as pivotal in either
promoting or ameliorating violence. Buy in to the philosophy by teachers
& administration is high, because the format allows each school to
create materials with its own personal stamp, and since there is no
classroom curriculum add on, the burden to teachers is vastly reduced.
Psychiatrists who work with schools could easily assist a school to put
the program in place as part of their consultation work.
Publication Type:
PMID: 15990689 |
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