School Violence Prevention Testimony. Presented to the California State Assembly Select Committee on School Safety.

This document presents a written testimony as submitted on June 1, 2001, in Downey, California, regarding long-term effects on students from being bullied or victimized by peers. Such victimization is now considered a warning sign of potentially violent students. Bullying, prevalent in schools, has detrimental effects upon children. It involves and affects victims, bullies, and bystanders. Unfortunately, many school-violence prevention strategies are limited and may even backfire in the long run. The most promising prevention model is founded on basic research on bullying and victimization by peers. It includes the following three components: (1) explicit anti-harassment school policy; (2) instruction for all students to help them understand the policy and develop conflict-resolution skills; and (3) case-by-case staff mediation that reinforces both school policy and instruction. Violence-prevention approaches that have limited efficacy include the implementation of physical safety measures, zero-tolerance policies, and programs designed for at-risk youth. Approaches should enhance psychological safety in addition to physical safety, include instructional programs aimed at changing social norms and developing mediation skills, involve all students instead of only the problematic ones, and be preventive instead of reactive. (Contains 21 references.) (RT)