Summary: Youth Matters Prevention Of Bullying

Bullying is one the most talked about subjects in schools across America today. Anti-bullying campaigns and signs can be seen throughout today’s middle-schools. The month of October has been declared anti-bullying month, as teachers, administrators and school districts nationwide all attempt to determine the causes and best practices for preventing bullying. Unfortunately today’s middle-schooler doesn’t just have to deal with bullying in school, an increasing number of students experiencing bullying via the web which has made it harder than ever to stop the practice. There have been several remedies offered up to prevent bullying but some say that the key to ending bullying is in the hands of students and themselves. This paper will review

YM focuses on the student transitional period between elementary and middle school and has its basis in the social development module. According to a study conducted by Jenson, Brisson, Bender and Williford, “ lessons in the YM curriculum identify clear consequences for bullying behavior and teach young people skills that are necessary to enhance their social bonds, improve prosocial attitudes, and increase self-efficacy” (2013, p. 363). This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program among adolescents in grades 5th, 6th and 7th. The study was conducted over the course of two academic school years as students’ transitioned from elementary to middle school, additionally more than 800 students participated. The article study states that, “YM assumes that the best mechanisms for reducing bullying behavior are changing an individual’s perceptions, attitudes, and self-efficacy beliefs (children believe that they can take action to stop bullying in their schools)” (Jenson at el., 2009, p. 363). This student centered module seeks to prevent bullying through the development of students social attitudes by helping them to cultivate healthy relationships with their peers, teachers and community. The study also focuses on moving students from what they call the “victim class” (students targeted by bullies) to the uninvolved class (students who are bystanders and help

The methods used may have differed but the consensus was that student centered prevention efforts are vital in helping the fight against bullying. While, bullying cannot be stopped by peer intervention alone these articles seek to show that students are the most likely to be successful in stopping these acts as they take on several roles in this fight. Students are not just the victims and bullies but are also on the frontlines as bystanders and an intervening force. The authors’ of these articles hope to show that administrators, teachers and parents are not enough to stop bullying, Students have to be stakeholders in the process and must be given the necessary tools to help change the climate of their social circles, schools and