Are Anti-Bullying Programs Having An Opposite Effect?

From CBS local.com (Oct. 8):

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A lot of schools spend countless hours trying to stop bullying. But some question if they are sending the right message.

It started as a simple look at bullying. University of Texas at Arlington criminologist Seokjin Jeong analyzed data collected from 7,000 students from all 50 states.

He thought the results would be predictable and would show that anti-bullying programs curb bullying. Instead — he found the opposite.

Jeong said it was, “A very disappointing and a very surprising thing. Our anti-bullying programs, either intervention or prevention does not work.”

The study concluded that students at schools with anti-bullying programs might actually be more likely to become a victim of bullying. It also found that students at schools with no bullying programs were less likely to become victims. [read more]

If the anti-bullying programs are those so-called “conflict resolutions” programs then it is not wonder the programs fail. You want to stop bullying? Expel the bully especially if he or she is a serial bully. That will send a signal to other bullies. Usually, kids that are bullies have parents that are bullies. Or the bully is being bullied by another kid or by a bunch of kids.

Maybe, the victims of bullies should take the RAGE approach next time they are bullied. Not bad suggestions by the author.