Marketing & Communications
Division of University Relations and Development
News Release
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CONTACT: Jason Foster FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SDSU
Partnership Implements Bullying Prevention Program SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - Students, parents and teachers at several South Bay middle schools soon will be involved in a new bullying prevention program developed by San Diego State University and San Diego County's Office of Violence Prevention. The Peer Abuse Prevention Program, which is designed
to reduce the incidence of bullying and improve students' feelings
of safety and support, will be implemented at Granger, Montgomery,
Southwest and Chula Vista middle schools in the Sweetwater Union
High School District at different times over the next 18 months.
The program aims to fight bullying with comprehensive education
and training measures ranging from schoolwide assemblies to parent
and teacher training sessions to individual lessons for bullies
and victims alike. "Bullying is a serious issue and one so complex
that you need a multilevel approach to address all the key factors,
and that's what the Peer Abuse Prevention Program does," said
SDSU Child and Family Development assistant professor Audrey Hokoda,
who developed the program along with Matt Herbst, Youth Projects
Manager for San Diego County's Office of Violence Prevention. "This
program helps students, teachers, parents and administrators recognize
bullying in all its forms, whether it's physical assault or psychological
violence such as teasing or exclusion. It also helps them understand
the effects of this abuse and know what actions they can take to
help solve the problem." Bullying is prevalent nationwide, Hokoda said,
and studies have shown as many as 30 percent of students between
the sixth and 10th grades have engaged in bullying, been victimized
by it, or both. Victims can suffer injuries, depression and suicide,
while bullies are at risk for substance abuse and other forms of
delinquency. Herbst, who works for a branch of the county's
Health and Human Services Agency, said that the impact of bullying
extends well beyond the students on either end of the abuse. "Peer abuse, commonly called bullying, affects
the entire school climate," Herbst said. "Besides those
who are direct victims, bystanders who witness bullying may become
fearful about to going to school. That kind of anxiety can interfere
with their education." The Peer Abuse Prevention Program, which is funded
by a $49,840 grant from the California Endowment, features three
levels of intervention - whole schools, classes and individuals.
At the whole school level, SDSU and county violence
prevention staff will help form coordinating committees that will
organize and plan the program, establish relevant rules and consequences,
and identify "hot spots" where bullying is frequently
reported. In addition, educational assemblies for students, as well
as training sessions for teachers and parents, will be conducted. At the classroom level, a series of 15-minute discussions
led by teachers will help children define bullying, address tolerance
of bullying by bystanders, determine appropriate consequences for
abusive behavior and helpful resources (such as hotlines) for reporting
abuse, and learn how to think and act if confronted by bullying
or tempted to abuse another student. At the individual level, students identified as
either victims or bullies will receive tailored support designed
to bolster their abilities to cope with stressful situations, understand
others, or manage anger, depending on the child's needs. Program materials and presentations will be translated
into Spanish to ensure the greatest level of understanding and participation
possible, Hokoda said. To evaluate the success of the program, Hokoda
and Herbst will survey students, parents and school staff before
and after the program to determine if there's a reduction in bullying
activity. SDSU and county violence prevention staff have
coordinated the Peer Abuse Prevention Program's development with
the district's Systems of Support Division for more than a year,
including collaborating on the grant application and conducting
a pilot anti-bullying program at Rancho Del Rey Middle School in
spring 2002. The partners chose to implement the full program at
Granger, Montgomery, Southwest and Chula Vista middle schools because
they had comparable bullying rates to other schools nationwide,
and school administrators there were willing to support the program. "We're very grateful for the support and assistance
we've received from the Sweetwater district's administration and
Systems of Support Program Manager Lynn Covarrubias," Hokoda
said. "We strongly believe this joint effort will have a positive
impact on their students and help the educational community establish
the best possible environment for children to learn and grow." San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14. SDSU's more than 33,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu. ### |
