Abstract
This chapter analyses the application of the techniques developed in the earlier projects to dealing with the issue of bullying in schools. The 3 year research project Acting Against Bullying was conducted in 18 schools, and included longitudinal data-gathering and detailed analysis of the research data to determine the long-term effects of the strategies in reducing bullying in the project schools. The chapter begins with a critical review of the available literature on bullying, and sets the project within this theoretical frame. The chapter goes on to describe the project and its considerable beneficial impact, not just on individual students, but on the ethos and bullying tolerance of whole school populations. A number of innovations to the original ‘Cooling Conflict’ model are investigated, including initiating the project in primary schools, and the development of a ‘master teachers’ program. The chapter also diagnoses the limitations, constraints and unmet targets that were encountered.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Australian Schools Directory. (2008). Survey of parental priorities in deciding schooling. www.australianschoolsdirectory.com. Accessed 28 Aug 2013.
Belliveau, G. (2007). An alternative practicum model for teaching and learning. Canadian Journal of Education, 30, 47–67.
Björkqvist, K., Oesterman, K., Lagerspetz, K. M. J., Landau, S. F., Caprara, G. V., & Fraczek, A. (2001). Aggression, victimization, and sociometric status: Findings from Finland, Israel, Italy, and Poland. In J. M. Ramirez & D. S. Richardson (Eds.), Cross-cultural approaches to research on aggression and reconciliation. New York: Nova.
Bullying Statistics. (2010). Stop bullying harassment and violence. http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-statistics-2010.html. Accessed 9 Sept 2013.
Burton, B. (2012). Peer teaching as a strategy schools for conflict management. Australian Educational Researcher, 39(1), 45–58.
Canadians Against Bullying. (2013). Response ability project. http://www.raproject.org/video/entry/bullying-bystanders. Accessed 5 Oct 2013.
Cassidy, H., & Watts, V. (2000). Using drama to relieve the oppression of school bullying. Queensland Journal of Educational Research, 16(2), 207–223.
Crothers, L. M., Kolbert, J. B., & Barker, W. F. (2006). Middle school students’ preferences for anti-bullying interventions. Psychology International, 27(4), 475–478.
Falchikov, N. (2001). Learning together: Peer tutoring in higher education. London: Routledge Falmer.
Forsyth, D., & McMillan, J. (1991). Practical proposals for motivating students. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 45, 53–65.
Glasl, F. (1999). Confronting conflict – a first aid kit for handling conflict. Stroud: Hawthorn.
Goodlad, S., & Hirst, B. (1989). Peer tutoring – a guide to learning by teaching. London: Kogan Page.
Gordon, E. E. (2005). Peer tutoring: A teacher’s resource guide. Lanham: Scarecrow Education.
Hall, S., Lewis, M., Border, S., & Powell, M. (2013). Near-peer teaching in clinical neuroanatomy. The Clinical Teacher, 10(4), 230–235.
Healy, K. (Ed.). (1998). Bullying and peer pressure. Balmain: The Spinney Press.
Jackson, T. (Ed.). (1993). Learning through theatre: New perspectives on theatre in education. London: Routledge.
Johnson, B., & Rigby, K. (2006). Bystander behaviour of South Australian schoolchildren observing bullying and sexual coercion. Educational Psychology, 26(3), 1–10.
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R., & Johnson, F. (1994). Effects of conflict resolution training on elementary school. The Journal of Social Psychology, 134(6), 803–817.
Maskell, P. (2002). Peer mentoring: What is it. In U. M. Elliott (Ed.), Bullying – A practical guide to coping for schools (pp. 104–114). London: Pearson Education.
Merrell, K. W., Gueldren, B. A., Ross, S. W., & Isava, D. M. (2008). How effective are school bullying intervention programs? A meta-analysis of intervention research. School Psychology Quarterly, 23(1), 26–42.
Morrison, M. (2004). Risk and responsibility: The potential of peer teaching to address negative leadership. Improving Schools, 7(3), 217–226. Sage.
Morrison, M., Burton, B., & O’Toole, J. (2005). Re-engagement through peer teaching drama: Insights into practice. In P. Burnard & S. Hennessy (Eds.), Reflective practices in arts education (pp. 139–149). Dordrecht: Springer.
Oh, I., & Hazler, R. J. (2009). Contributions of personal and situational factors to bystanders ‘reactions to school bullying. School Psychology International, 30, 291–310.
O’Toole, J., Burton, B., & Plunkett, A. (2005). Cooling conflicts: A new approach to conflict and bullying in schools. Sydney: Pearson Education.
Parsons, L. (2005). Bullied teacher, bullied student: How to recognize the bullying culture in your school and what to do about it. Markham: Pembroke.
Powell, K., et al. (1994). A review of selected school-based conflict resolution and peer mediation projects. Journal of Social Health, 65(10), 426–431.
Rigby, K. (2002). A meta-evaluation of methods and approaches to reducing bullying in pre-schools and early primary schools in Australia. Canberra: Commonwealth Attorney-General.
Rigby, K. (2007). Bullying in schools and what to do about it. Camberwell: ACER Press.
Rigby, K. (2010). Bullying interventions in schools: Six basic approaches. Camberwell: ACER Press.
Roberts, W. B., Jr. (2006). Bullying from both sides: Strategic interventions for working with bullies and victims. California: Corwin Press.
Simmons, D., Fuchs, L., Fuchs, D., Mathes, P., & Hodge, J. (1995). Effects of explicit teaching and peer tutoring on the reading achievement of learning-disabled and low-performing students in regular classrooms. The Elementary School Journal, 95(5), 387.
Smith, P., & Ananiadou, K. (2003). The nature of school bullying and the effectiveness of school-based interventions. Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 5(2), 189–209.
Smith, P., Pepler, D., & Rigby, K. (Eds.). (2004). Bullying in schools: How successful can interventions be? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Smokowski, P. R., & Kopasz, K. H. (2005). Bullying in school: An overview of types, effects, family characteristics, and intervention strategies. Children and Schools, 27(2), 101–110.
Statistics on Bullying. (2013). National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. http://www.nspcc.org.uk/inform/resourcesforprofessionals/bullying/bullying_statistics_wda85732.html. Accessed 30 Sept 2013.
Storch, E. A., & Masia-Warner, C. (2004). The relationship of peer victimization to social anxiety and loneliness in adolescent females. Journal of Adolescence, 27, 351–362.
Sturdivant, R., & Souhan, B. (2011). Peer-to-peer teaching using multi-disciplinary applications as topics. Primus: Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies, 21(3), 283–293.
Sullivan, K., Cleary, M., & Sullivan, G. (2004). Bullying in secondary schools: What it looks like and how to manage it. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Svinicki, M. (1991). Practical implications of cognitive theories. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 45, 27–37.
Underwood, M. K. (2003). Social aggression among girls. New York: The Guilford Press.
Volk, A. A., Camilleri, J. A., Dane, A. V., & Marini, Z. A. (2012). Is adolescent bullying and evolutionary adaptation? Aggressive Behaviour, 38(3), 222–238.
Whitted, S., & Dupper, R. (2005). Best practices for preventing or reducing bullying in schools. Children and Schools, 2(3), 167–175.
Zins, J. E., Elias, M. J., & Maher, C. A. (2007). Bullying, victimization, and peer harassment: A handbook of prevention and intervention. New York: Haworth Pres.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Burton, B., Lepp, M., Morrison, M., O’Toole, J. (2015). Acting Against Bullying in Schools. In: Acting to Manage Conflict and Bullying Through Evidence-Based Strategies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17882-0_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17882-0_6
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17881-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17882-0
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)