Potential Pitfalls

Schools that have struggled to implement anti-bullying programs frequently cite time, lack of support, and inadequate training as the main obstacles to building an effective program. To increase your chances of success, consider the following suggestions from researchers and seasoned program staff:

1. As with any new program, avoid creating a great deal of extra paperwork for teachers or other school staff. Anti-bullying programs are more likely to succeed if they are not seen as a burden, or as just another set of hoops that teachers and students must jump through.

2. Before moving forward with an anti-bullying program, secure administrative support at both the school and ditrict levels. Depending on the scope of the program, this may mean soliciting funding, release time, and/or support for new policies and curriculum.

3. Be careful that the bullying program does not result in students being stigmatized—either as bullies or as victims. Placing a label on a student may ensure that he or she gets help, but it may also work to reinforce the bullying dynamic and make it more difficult for students to escape those roles.

4. Remember that the most effective anti-bullying programs are ongoing throughout the school year, and are integrated with the curriculum, the school’s discipline policies, and other violence prevention efforts at school. A handful of isolated lessons is unlikely to produce significant change (Pirozzi, 2001).

5. And finally, don’t expect change overnight. Effectively addressing bullying behavior takes time, and will require a sustained and conscious effort to change the overall culture of the school. In order to accomplish this, the entire school community must be engaged, committed, and involved.