Bullying, It's Still Around

Posted by Brian W. Koenig on 22 November 2009 | 4184 Comments

Tags: , ,

Since the Columbine tragedy in 1999, there has been a fairly vigorous national effort, albeit disjointed, to stop antisocial behaviors, like bullying, at school. The resulting publicity, research, and array of new programs have accomplished at least three things:

• We have clearer definitions of bullying and the forms it takes.
• We have a near consensus that bullying, harassment, and other mean-spirited behaviors should not be tolerated in our schools.
• We realize there is damage done to kids who are the chronic targets of this behavior.

These are significant accomplishments. Unfortunately, the ultimate accomplishment still eludes our grasp: Consistently stopping bullying in our schools.

The current situation for bullying prevention is best defined by two articles in Denver-area newspapers (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12174189 and http://yellowscene.com/2009/08/05/the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-school-yard/) . These stories summarize the results of a three-year $9 million effort in 40 Colorado counties funded by the Colorado Trust, aptly called the Bullying Prevention Initiative. There were many positive outcomes, but this sentence from one of the articles summarizes the results nicely:

"Students who said they participated in or watched physical bullying dropped from 69 percent to 58 percent over three years. For verbal bullying, the drop was 76 percent to 67 percent."

This is an admirable effort that hopefully educators and researchers around the country can learn from. In my opinion – and opinions expressed in these articles – it would have been nice to see a greater change. And these results are consistent with other research conducted in the US over the last 10 years; varying effects and difficulty pinpointing a high-impact prevention strategy.

How often can schools and communities muster this kind of energy and resources for a prevention effort? Colorado’s Bullying Prevention Initiative is probably the crème de la crème of bullying prevention projects, as we know it now.

So I would commend the work that has been done so far, but suggest that educators, policymakers, and researchers consider a paradigm shift to an approach that gives better results and, maybe, at a lower cost.

To do this shift there are 4 broad strategies that would dramatically change the way we approach school climate and bullying prevention:

• Acknowledge that some students cannot manage the complicated social situations we have created in our burgeoning school buildings and offer help.
• To change the climate and culture in our schools, we need to first focus on the adults in our school communities.
• Modify the physical dynamics of the school environment, particularly those environments that are conducive to antisocial behavior and hierarchy.
• Use “deeper” prevention approaches like community building, nutrition, exercise, and meditation.

After 15 years of prevention work and some intense efforts with 7 school districts, I can see that prevention and intervention efforts focused almost solely on students are not sustainable; they result in lots of work with a small return.

We need strategies that start closer to the roots in our schools. Surprisingly, the costs are often lower and the changes can be simple. More on this simplicity in later blogs.


Post your comment

Comments

  • perfect design thanks <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334929 "><strong>sexy underage girls</strong> </a> 852 <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334885 "><strong>lolita underage nude</strong> </a> 8-)) <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334927 "><strong>underage porn videos</strong> </a> wybjuk <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334877 "><strong>underage tube</strong> </a> zbba <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334918 "><strong>naked underage</strong> </a> jaouu <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334887 "><strong>underage fucking</strong> </a> noqop <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334876 "><strong>underage tgp</strong> </a> tohrfs <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334872 "><strong>underage image board</strong> </a> :PPP <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334936 "><strong>underage blowjob</strong> </a> >:DDD <a href=" http://www.answerbag.com/profile/1334883 "><strong>underage cp</strong> </a> %-DDD

    Posted by Dzixjgyv, 03/09/2010 9:10pm (1 day ago)

  • Bing http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1378/ free sexy young preteen girls kosty http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1379/ young naked tribal merlusas http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1380/ young teen with sexy ass strips depesha

    Posted by bwpxs, 03/09/2010 8:54pm (1 day ago)

  • I'm happy very good site <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/toruhuteopi ">chldlve pedo </a> pkjj <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aacukebif ">pedo art </a> tskpb <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/adocetume ">pedo videos </a> 568 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/nuamatiju ">pedo incest stories </a> 13966 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ybahyili ">pedo land </a> 51656 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/rydehikaoc ">illegal cp pedo child </a> zgjf <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aferocegi ">pedo models </a> >:PP <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ijecaeegur ">pedo cp </a> 8868 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/tefiqijaiyk ">pedo stories bbs </a> yqlccq <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/agunuparigy ">pedo portal </a> hnnd

    Posted by Iddnaewg, 03/09/2010 8:13pm (1 day ago)

  • Good crew it's cool :) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aacukebif ">pedo art </a> :[ <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ianaqoqoi ">pre chil loli pedo </a> 039408 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/nuamatiju ">pedo incest stories </a> 478877 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ybahyili ">pedo land </a> =-OO <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/cosyokytykik ">pedo pussy </a> 237394 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/alubutaina ">little pedo pics </a> vpt <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/rydehikaoc ">illegal cp pedo child </a> iiycln <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/uujydaegae ">child pedo pics </a> lxpban <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/jehugiopu ">preteen sex lolita pedo preteens nude free videos </a> %-[ <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/agunuparigy ">pedo portal </a> 8-DDD

    Posted by Hkcvfatl, 03/09/2010 8:13pm (1 day ago)

  • magic story very thanks <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/omypigylilidu ">pedo torrent </a> =-]] <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/oipalesia ">puffy young pedo </a> kec <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ufimibysukoo ">pedo boy </a> 7293 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/fofoqerac ">pedo files </a> zkh <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/lasauyc ">pedo incest </a> oppgi <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/iugydeluto ">russian pedo </a> :-]] <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/cosyokytykik ">pedo pussy </a> :-))) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/tefiqijaiyk ">pedo stories bbs </a> >:DDD <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aferocegi ">pedo models </a> :-))) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/akilululu ">pedo kids </a> %]]]

    Posted by Rgknqsek, 03/09/2010 8:13pm (1 day ago)

  • Bing http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1375/ youngest emo twinks netti http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1376/ jim young naval architect allegro http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1377/ vintage incest young porn yesteran

    Posted by unlvm, 03/09/2010 7:57pm (1 day ago)

  • Hello http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1372/ pliny the young uzumymw http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1373/ young lesbians torturing young lesbians videos talisker http://jmedia.ca/index.php/member/1374/ young girl locker room cam zaremba

    Posted by qrbzt, 03/09/2010 6:59pm (1 day ago)

  • Very Good Site <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/rimajiqotyri ">loli pedo cp </a> 244773 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/reyqyiq ">free pedo </a> bppi <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/akyupyri ">pedo child </a> nniak <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ahofyjoqy ">pedo tube </a> :)) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/yguifaiiru ">pedo gallery </a> kxtf <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/nihoqebom ">pedo cartoons </a> %P <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ydefyiluh ">pedo girls </a> %) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/otufitydul ">pedo russian girl </a> >:-)) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ylamouany ">free pedo stories </a> ohureb <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/okoqogysor ">top pedo sites </a> 264197

    Posted by Ybjnyhkb, 03/09/2010 6:31pm (1 day ago)

  • Gloomy tales <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/gueujoe ">pedo kids video </a> dlne <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/akyupyri ">pedo child </a> 1461 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/yrojijagifu ">pedo bear </a> 672 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/hemuloceuka ">free pedo pics </a> 9567 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ahofyjoqy ">pedo tube </a> jbp <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ydefyiluh ">pedo girls </a> 7644 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/otufitydul ">pedo russian girl </a> 699 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ylamouany ">free pedo stories </a> :-))) <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/amyyfahem ">pedo child gallery </a> dhc <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aleideqej ">pedo stars </a> oubd

    Posted by Bakkzjch, 03/09/2010 6:31pm (1 day ago)

  • very best job <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/akyupyri ">pedo child </a> :OOO <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/abogyru ">pedo links </a> :-D <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/yrojijagifu ">pedo bear </a> 180 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ahofyjoqy ">pedo tube </a> tjvh <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/ydefyiluh ">pedo girls </a> 6161 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/otufitydul ">pedo russian girl </a> 725345 <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/aqutonyh ">loli 12 years pedo </a> >:-PPP <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/lojycutufa ">illegal pedo </a> %-DDD <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/amyyfahem ">pedo child gallery </a> %-DDD <a href=" http://www.nashville.net/profile/fehakebyposa ">pedo sex </a> :-]

    Posted by Lxpczmjb, 03/09/2010 6:31pm (1 day ago)

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 next »

RSS feed for comments on this page