The Expect Respect Project: Creating a Positive Elementary School Climate

The Expect Respect Project, a violence prevention program, was developed to reduce the incidence of bullying and sexual harassment by creating a positive school climate in which inappropriate behaviors are not tolerated and staff members respond consistently to incidents. The project implemented an educational intervention for students, parents, and staff members on expecting respect in student relationships and strategies for responding to inappropriate student behaviors. This article describes the educational intervention and evaluation of the project. Findings from the project showed a significant increase in awareness of bullying following the educational intervention. Bullying was reported to have occurred in areas with less adult super-vision such as the playground, cafeteria, hallway, and buses. Students thought staff would respond to inappropriate behaviors by telling students to ignore verbal bullying or sexual harassment. In contrast, staff at the elementary schools thought adults would respond to inappropriate behaviors by telling the bully to stop, calling his or her parents, or giving a specific punishment
Author: 
Martha,G.Meraviglia
Heather,Becker
Barri,Rosenbluth
Ellen,Sanchez
Trina,Robertson
Notes: 
IS
Reprint Status: 
NOT IN FILE
Start Page: 
1347
End Page: 
1360
Journal/Periodical Name: 
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Volume: 
18
Abstract: 
This article summarizes the evaluation results of the Expect Respect Project. Expect Respect Project is a multi-level violence prevention program designed to reduce the incidence of bullying and sexual harassment in elementary schools. During 1998 and 1999, six schools received the intervention and were matched with six schools that did not receive the intervention. The intervention includes 5 sections; classroom curriculum, staff training, policy development, parent education, and support services. Participants included students, parents, school administrators, principles, counselors, and fifth grade teachers. Each participant completed pre and post-test surveys that consisted of questions surrounding knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of bullying and sexual harassment in elementary schools. The Expect Respect Project increased student and staff knowledge of sexual harassment but did not show an increase in knowledge of bullying. Students felt if they reported bullying or sexual harassment. In contrast, adults at school would ignore the inappropriate behavior while adults reported that they would respond by telling the bully to stop.
Topic Areas: 
curriculum, evaluation, harassment, prevention
Reference Type: 
JOUR
Reference ID: 
2552
Publication Date: 
2003/11