| There are scores of different anti-bully programs | | | | they can be trusted to successfully execute a |
| being run in schools throughout America and hundreds | | | | complex, social design experiment? |
| more competing for a share of the market. Which | | | | Next, consider private schools. Along with a better |
| ones have the winning track record of proven | | | | reputation for academic achievement, there's an air |
| results? | | | | of prestige, and a considerable tuition obligation. Such |
| There certainly are lots to choose from. Some states | | | | institutions are understandably reluctant to admit |
| pass laws mandating a comprehensive framework of | | | | there's a bullying problem, as that would damage their |
| special training for teachers and administrators that | | | | perceived status. And if there' s no problem, there's |
| dovetails with student awareness programs, detailed | | | | no need to fix it. |
| reporting procedures, and 'resolution' schedules that | | | | Lastly, we can take a look at the independent gurus. |
| range from mediation to suspension. | | | | For the most part, they're undoubtedly good men |
| Other schools outsource their anti-bully programs to | | | | and women with noble intentions. And they're running |
| 'experts'. Again, there's an incredible array of options. | | | | businesses (it's a very lucrative market). Naturally, |
| The ranks include psychiatrists and psychologists, | | | | their curriculum are designed to appeal to |
| PhD's, lawyers, martial artists, clergy members, | | | | committees, boards and administrators (who have |
| former victims, activists for peace & love, and | | | | the money) instead of the children (who have the |
| even extreme BMX stunt performers. There are | | | | problems). Marketing is the foremost concern- |
| individuals who'll do a one day assembly, and | | | | effectiveness runs a distant second. |
| organizations that specialize in comprehensive, | | | | As a result, the programs being installed have nothing |
| multi-year, district wide contracts. | | | | to do with empirically proven methods, and |
| How do all of these stack up against each other? | | | | everything to do with 'feeling good' and cashing in. |
| First, let's take a look at the public school system. | | | | Yes, free market capitalism is a wonderful thing, and |
| The embarrassing reality is that American students | | | | making a profit on your products or services is |
| rank far below their peers in other developed | | | | wonderful. When you're providing something of value. |
| countries - in benchmark areas such as science and | | | | Years of research and mountains of evidence |
| mathematics, US children are in the bottom third. Our | | | | demonstrate that school-based anti-bullying programs |
| nosedive to the bottom is accelerating, too. | | | | have a dismal and disappointing record. Continuing to |
| Government employed teachers seem unable to | | | | promote them is unscrupulous. |
| impart the basics. What possible hope is there that | | | | |