Websites

John Hunter: Teaching with the World Peace Game -- a TED Talk by a 4th grade teacher, John Hunter, about an incredible role play project he uses with his students to develop skills of critical analysis, reasoning, emotional intelligence, and much more.  A very inspiring video and an amazing teacher and man!

Education Week Coverage of School Violence and Safety Issues -- go to the home page and search using school violence and other related terms.

Dear Colleague Letter Sent by U.S. Dept. of Education and Office of Civil Rights -- In October of 2010, the U.S. Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights sent a letter to all public schools in the country clearly stating that educators may be held liable, under U.S. civil rights law, if they fail to address bullying/harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.  The letter said, “The statutes that OCR enforces include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504); and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II). Section 504 and Title II prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.  School districts may violate these civil rights statutes and the Department’s implementing regulations when peer harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability is sufficiently serious that it creates a hostile environment and such harassment is encouraged, tolerated, not adequately addressed, or ignored by school employees."

The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States -- a 2002 report by a panel sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Secret service.

Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates -- a follow-up report by the Safe School Initiative, sponsored by the Dept. of Education and the U.S. Secret Service.

Are Zero Tolerance Policies Effective in the Schools? -- a review of the research and recommendations for school practice -- a study conducted by a task force formed by the American Psychological Association.

"It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a ... Weapon -- a 2009 NYTimes article about a 6 year old boy who was suspended from school for bringing to school a camping utensil that included a spoon, fork, and knife. He had just joined the Cub Scouts and wanted to try the utensil at lunch.

Zero Tolerance Policies: An Issue Brief -- a summary review of history, research, and recommendations, prepared by the Virginia Board of Education.

Largest Ever Study of Anti-LGBT Harassment in Schools Shows the Problem is Widespread, Dangerous and Preventable -- "Despite an anti-harassment law that took effect four years ago this month, harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation remain persistent and pervasive in California schools. 7.5% of California’s middle and high school students, more than 200,000 students every year, are targets of harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation, according to a study released by the California Safe Schools Coalition. The Safe Place to Learn study found that widespread bullying has dangerous academic, health and safety consequences for students."

California Safe Schools Coalition -- Various research briefs documenting discrimination and harassment on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in California schools.

GSA Network -- Empowering youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools.

They Don't Even Know Me: Understanding Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in School -- a powerful report about the physical and emotional abuse associated with anti-gay violence in schools.

U.S. Department of Education Letter to Schools and Educators about Bullying -- a statement that educators have a responsibility to address bullying in accordance with federal civil rights law, and if they fail to do this, they can be held liable in a court of law.

Cruel Kids, Tragic Ends -- ABC news video that tells a true story about a student who was bullied and harassed so much that he saw suicide as his only way out.  

The Secrets a Teen Carried Nearly Killed Her... -- a very powerful and brave video made by a young woman who was bullied.

Cyberbullying: The New Online Crime -- a good, brief, clear, overview article that includes many useful links.

The Cyberbullying Research Center -- an organization "dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying among adolescents.  Cyberbullying can be defined as 'willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.'"

Cyber Bullying and Young People: Treatment Principles Not Simplistic Advice -- This article gives a broad overview of the problem of cyber bullying: what it is, the consequences of letting it continue, and advice on how to work with victims of cyber bullying and parents.

Cyber Bullying: Always On? Always Aware! -- This website is a comprehensive resource on the issue of cyber bullying. It lists the various electronic mediums through which bullying may occur, gives suggestions for prevention, and provides warning signs for possible victims.

No Bully -- a website about bullying and anti-bullying, created by an organization whose purpose is to make school a place where every student feels included by their peers and accepted for who they are.

STOP Cyberbullying -- This website provides resources for students, teachers, and care givers.

Time Line of Worldwide School Shootings -- an article containing a list of worldwide school shootings that occurred from 1996 to the present.

Preventing School Shootings: A Summary of a U.S. Secret Service Safe School Initiative Report -- an article summarizing the USSS Safe School Initiative report on school violence.

Preparing Teachers for Conflict Resolution in Schools -- an article designed to introduce teachers to the idea of the technique of Progressive Conflict Resolution.

Conflict Resolution Education: Four Approaches -- an article designed to instruct teachers on the four most common (and most effective) forms of in-classroom conflict mediation: Process Curriculum, Mediation Programs, Peaceable Classrooms, and Peaceable Schools.

Teaching Students to Be Peer Mediators -- While traditional discipline procedures teach students to depend on authority figures to resolve conflicts, the Peacemaker Program teaches children how to mediate disputes and negotiate solutions themselves.

Decreasing Violence Through Conflict Resolution Education in Schools -- an article that explains the dangers of “zero tolerance” policies, and the virtues of spending the time to educate your students on proper resolution techniques.

National Association Of School Psychologists Center -- information on how zero tolerance affects students with special needs, and how that can affect the implementation of a multicultural learning environment.

Chicago Targets Youth Violence After Deadly Brawl -- listen to a radio segment about (2009) youth violence and deaths in Chicago related to gangs, the closing of some schools and the transporting of students to other schools/neighborhoods far away, and more -- shows how youth violence is linked to the debate over charter schools, school funding inequalities, and other major issues in education.

Mendez Foundation Education Center -- provides a framework for peaceable classrooms K-12 -- includes information about conflict resolution, anger management, respect for self and others, and effective communication.

Breaking Down Barriers -- a report on a high school program in Michigan that successfully brought students together across racial and other social and cultural divisions

Can Emotional Intelligence Be Taught? -- NY Times article on Social Emotional Learning "Should social-emotional learning prove successful...it could generate a string of benefits that far exceeds a mere bump in test scores."

The Mind and Life Institute -- an international organization that is working to develop a "scientific understanding of how to cultivate a mind of compassion and wisdom" -- includes multidisciplinary research and educational programs about the value and benefits of "contemplative practice" (e.g., meditation) and other activities that can help create an ethic of care and concern for others and all.

S.A.V.E (Students Against Violence Everywhere) -- a student-initiated program that promotes nonviolence within schools and communities.

Conflict Resolution Network -- an organization that has as its vision, "to create a conflict-resolving community."

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 567, School Violence: What is School Violence? An Integrated Definition -- an online journal that addresses the failure of schools to address the wider context of school violence, and casual effects arising from the confluence of various forces.

Peabody Journal of Education: Peace Education in an Urban School District in the United States -- an article about using the insights of peace education through school based conflict management, environmental education, global studies, multicultural awareness, peer mediation, and violence prevention.

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence -- lots of useful data and prevention strategies.

National Crime Prevention Council -- an emphasis on maintaining "civic health" -- ideas about how parents, students, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and community members can work together to limit school violence -- also includes links to other good sites.

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science: School Violence: Gangs and a Culture of Fear -- an online journal about violence in schools, school structure, gang activity as it pertains to students and solutions to the growing gang problem.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: A Comprehensive Response America's Youth Gang Problem -- a fact sheet on comprehensive ways to solve America's youth gang problem.

Character Education: Free Resources, Materials, Lesson Plans -- a website that includes teaching guides, lesson plans and links to other resources on character education. Also provides information on service learning and character education in sports.

Youth As Resources -- a community based program in Baltimore that provides small grants to young people to design and carry out service projects.

Researchers Target Impact of Television Violence -- an article about recent research concerning the effects of violence on TV -- it reports that from 1998 to 2002 violence seen during the 8 p.m. family hour increased 41 percent.

Bullying in the US: Rates, Tips, and Resources -- From the US Insurance Agents website, this page offers some concise information on bullying, making it a good jumping-off point for research on the subject.

8 Tips for Protecting Children and Teens Online -- Short guide for parents, caregivers, and educators detailing easy ways to implement safe and secure internet usage.

Wristband Resources -- Wristband Resources is a website dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and the harmful effects it can have on individuals. Located at the bottom of the webpage is a rich collection of online and PDF resources on types of bullying, prevention methods, and statistics.

Gun Violence and Student Safety -- this website provides statistics and information regarding the safety of our schools and resources for educators. The resource also provides questions for teachers and school administrators to ask about gun violence and safety in the school.

Cyberbullying: How to Identify, Resources to Help, and Innovative Solutions for the Future -- This guide provides a detailed overview of cyberbullying and suggests some strategies to help combat it. 

Some Good Books & Articles

Artz, S. 1999. Sex, Power and the Violent School Girl. New York: Trifolium Books.

Breguet, T. 2007. Frequently Asked Question About Cyber Bullying. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

Browning, L. 2000. "What Do You Mean 'Think Before I Act'? Conflict Resolution with Choices. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 14(2): 232-8.

Butchart, R. 1998. Classroom Discipline in American Schools: Problems and Possibilities for Democratic Education. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

Cassidy, W., Jackson, M. & Brown, K. 2009. Sticks and Stones Can Break My Bones, But How Can Pixels Hurt Me?: Students' Experiences With Cyber-Bullying. School Psychology International.

Cohen, J. 1999. Educating Minds and Hearts: Social Emotional Learning and the Passage into Adolescence. New York: Teachers College Press.

Cohen, J. (Ed.) 2001. Caring Classrooms/ Intelligent Schools. Teachers College Press.

Curcio, J. & First, P. 1993. Violence in the Schools: How to Proactively Prevent and Defuse It. Corwin Press.

Dilmaç, B. 2009. Psychological Needs as a Predictor of Cyber Bullying: A Preliminary Report on College Students. Kuram ve Uygulamada Egitim Bilimleri, 9 (3): 1307-1326.

Duke, D. 2002. Creating Safe Schools for All Children. Allyn and Bacon.

Dusenbury, L. 1997. Nine Critical Elements of Promising Violence Prevention Programs. Journal of School Health, 67 (10): 409.

Ford, A. 2009. School Liability: Holding Middle Schools Liable for Cyber-Bullying Despite Their Implementation of Internet Usage Contracts. Journal of Law and Education, 38(3): 535-544.

Froschl, M. & Gropper, N. 1999. Fostering Friendships, Curbing Bullying. Educational Leadership, 56(8): 72.

Gabriel, R., Hopson, T., Haskins, M. & Powell, K. 1996. Building Relationships and Resilience in the Prevention of Youth Violence. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12: 48-55.

Garbarino, J. 1999. The Lost Boys. New York: Free Press.

Goddard, C. 2008. H8 @ skul: Cyber World Bullying. Illinois School Board Journal: 4-9.

Goleman, D. 1995. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.

Golus, C. 2009. Take a Stand. Lerner Publications Company.

Gorman, K. 2003. The Ethics of Zero Tolerance. Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 41.

Harris, I.M. 1996. Peace Education in an Urban School District in the United States. Peabody Journal of Education, Vol. 71, No.3: 63-83.

Harvard Educational Review. 1995. An entire issue of the journal (Summer, v. 65, no. 2) is devoted to the topic, "Violence and Youth."

Heide, K. 1999. Young Killers: The Challenge of Juvenile Homicide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Henry, S. 2000. What is School Violence? An Integrated Definition. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 567: 16-29.

Hill, M. & Hill, F. 1994. Creating Safe Schools: What Principals Can Do. Corwin Press.

Howell, J. 1997. Juvenile Justice and Youth Violence. Thousand Oaks, CA .Sage.

Johnson, D. & Johnson, R. 1995. Reducing School Violence Through Conflict Resolution. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Johnson, D. & Johnson, R. 1996. Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Programs in Elementary and Secondary Schools: A Review of the Research. Review of Education Research, 66(4): 459-506.

Johnson, D. & Johnson, R. 2001. Peer Mediation in an Inner-City Elementary School. Urban Education, 36(2): 165-178.

Johnson, J. 1998. How Do I Feel About Bullies and Gangs. Copper Beech Books.

Johnston, M. 1996. Dealing with Bullying. PowerKids Press.

Katz, N. & Lawyer, J. 1994. Resolving Conflict Successfully: Needed Knowledge and Skills. Corwin Press.

Kauffman, J. & Burbach, H. 1997. On Creating a Climate of Classroom Civility. Phi Delta Kappan, 78(4): 320.

Keith, S., & Martin, M. 2005. Cyber-Bullying: Creating a Culture of Respect in a Cyber World. Reclaiming Children and Youth 13(4): 224-8.

Kivel, P. 1997. Making the Peace: A 15 Session Violence Prevention Curriculum for Young People. Hunter House: Almeda, CA.

Kopka, D. 1997. School Violence: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barabra: ABC-CLIO.

Lane, P. 1995. Conflict Resolution of Kids. Washington, DC: Accelerated Development.

Lantieri, L & Patti, J. 1996. Waging Peace in Our Schools. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

Lantieri, L. 2008. Building Emotional Intelligence. Sounds True Press.

Lundstrom, M. 1999. Character Makes a Comeback. Instructor, 109(3):25.

MacGrath, M. 1998. The Art of Teaching Peacefully: Improving Behaviour and Reducing Conflict in the Classroom. London: David Fulton.

Noguera, P. 1995. Preventing and Producing Violence. Harvard Education Review, 65(2): 189-212.

Ozer, E. 2005. The Impact of Violence on Urban Adolescents: Longitudinal Effects of Perceived School Connection and Family Support. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20(2): 167-192.

Pace, R. 1999. Teaching Peace with Dr. Seuss. Kappa Delta Pi, 35(3):118-21.

Scheunemann, P. 2004. Dealing with Bullies. ABDO Publishing Company.

Skiba, R. & Peterson, R. 1999. The Dark Side of Zero Tolerance. Phi Delta Kappan, 80(5): 372-382.

Skiba, R. & Sprague, J. 2008. Safety Without Suspensions. Educational Leadership, 66(1): 38-43.

Spina, S. 2000. Smoke and Mirrors: The Hidden Context of Violence in Schools and Society. Rowman & Littlefield.

Stevahn, L. Johnson, D. & Johnson, R. 2003. Effects of Conflict Resolution Training Integrated into a High School Social Studies Curriculum. The Journal of Social Psychology, 142(3): 301-331.

Stomfay-Stitz, A. & Wheeler, E. 2007. Cyberbullying and Our Middle School Girls. Childhood Education: 308J-K.

Taylor, K. 2008. Cyberbullying: Is There Anything Schools Can Do? Principal Leadership, 8 (9): 60-63.

Watts, I. & Erevelles, N. 2004. These Deadly Times: Reconceptualizing School Violence by Using Critical Race Theory and Disability Studies. American Education Research Journal, 41(2): 271-299.

Zimring, F. 1998. American Youth Violence. New York: Oxford University Press.

Some Good Videos/Films

Lessons of Littleton -- a film about the murders at Littleton H.S., in Colorado, and their roots in bullying, 1999.

Not Just a Game: Power, Politics & American Sports -- a powerful film that includes an anti-bullying message, 2010

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Cyber Bullying: The Complete Resource Guide -- This site is designed to give an in-depth look at what cyber bullying is, how to identify cyber bullying, methods of addressing cyber bullying scenarios, and how the law applies to cyber bullying. It also provides a list of where and how cyber bullying might occur on popular social media sites used today. 

Understanding Cyberbullying in College -- Provides "tips, tools, and solutions" to cyber bullying experiences may face within the college environment. Offers insight into what cyber bullying is, as well as resources and help for students who may need additional support and/or guidance.

Bullying: Awareness and Prevention -- Webpage dedicated to understanding the trend of bullying and how to combat it. Emphasizes featured insight from expert contributors: Andrew Faas, Jonathan Fast, and Dr. Marlene Seltzer.

Stand up to Cyberbullying -- This site highlights the fact that cyberbullying effects youth of all ages. There are categories for all different age groups, ranging from preschoolers to older teens that explain what is going on in their “world” at this time, where they are at developmentally, and advice and tips to prevent bullying cyberbullying that are age appropriate.

 Stay Safe Online -- highlights what parents can do to protect their devices that connect to the internet, and keep their children safe online.  Another section of this website titled “In the Classroom” provides lessons and teaching materials to teach students the importance of the three pillars: cybersecurity, cybersafety, and cyberethics.

Cyberbullying Prevention Activities for School, Families, and Community -- provides examples of activities that teachers and parents can use at home and in the classroom once they feel ready to teach their children about cyberbullying. Various types of activities are used for each grade level.

Kids and technology: The new rules of online safety -- statistics  on childrens' internet useage as well as social networking sites.

Lieberman, R., & Cowan, K. C.. 2011, October. Bullying and youth suicide: Breaking the connection. Principal Leadership. Vol. 12, Iss. 2: 12-18.

Committee for Children (2010) -- explores the different Social and Emotional Learning programs and funding options. Also offers resources in SEL training programs and an online training package for grades K-5.

Empowering Youths to Make Effective Choices -- great resource website that gives a general synopsis on the definition of emotional intelligence, what it can do and how it works.

Emotional Intelligence Information -- the site, hosted by the University of New Hampshire, explains how emotional intelligence can improve knowledge, what strong emotional intelligence means as an academic indicator,  and the controversies that surround the idea of emotional intelligence.

Empathy and Compassion -- this online source focuses on the importance of empathy with many articles on the neuropsychological basis of compassion.

Childhood Bullying: Implications for Physicians -- article describing the interaction between a bully and its victim. It lists the different types of bullying and the strategies to stop them.

Video*****************School Promotes LGBT Equality -- this video follows a local school district that is trying to find solutions to their LBGT bullying problem. The video also provides student interviews, which gives a different perspective on this topic.  

Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resources -- This website provides resources for parents who are dealing with children who they suspect are being bullied. It gives prevention plans, and also gives ways for parents to figure out if their children are being bullied.  

Stomp Out Bullying -- a website filled with ways to prevent bullying and cyber bullying. There is also a good amount of factual information, and statistics on LGBT bullying and other forms of bullying.  

Mental Health America -- this site focuses on preventing and stopping bullying before it gets serious.

Shutting LGBT Students Out -- This article comes the Harvard Kennedy school journal, and talks about how current LGBT prevention programs aren’t working.

Casey Haynes Interview-The bully victim who fought back -- This is a news package about a bully being stood up to by one of his victims. By “stood up” we mean caused physical harm to in self defense, but to a much graver level. This is a great conversation starter about bullying prevention.

Lodge, Jodie. Frydenberg, Erica. 2005. The Role of Peer Bystanders in School Bullying: Positive Steps toward Promoting Peaceful Schools. Theory into Practice. Vol. 44, 4. 

Milson, Amy. Gallo, Laura L. 2006. Bullying in Middle Schools: Prevention and Intervention. Middle School Journal.

Mishna, Faye. Scarcello, Iolanda. Pepler Debra. Wiener, Judith. 2005. Teachers' Understanding of Bullying. Canadian Journal of Education. Vol. 28, 4.

How Do We Stop Bullying in Schools -- This article blames bullying in schools on on a violent family life between parents at home. It then suggests 5 ways that school programs can help promote anti-violent conflict resolution.

‘A Troubling Trend’: Discussing Bullying and Antigay Attitudes -- article that provides teachers with lesson plans for handling bullying against LGBTQ students and addressing issues of homophobia and antigay attitudes in the classroom.

Get Busy Get Equal -- a website run by the American Civil Liberties Union that discusses issues of relationships, parenting, discrimination, and school topics surrounding LGBTQ children and teens. The goal is to provide people with tools to help promote LBGTQ equality.

Cyberbullying Research Center -- This site has a dozen videos explaining what cyberbullying is, how it happens,  and what parents and educators can do to prevent it. Each video is accessible and easy to understand.

Enough Is Enough -- This internet safety information site includes information about how to keep children safe on the internet. It has sections regarding pornography, predators, and cyberbullies.

Stop Cyberbullying -- This is site explains why kids cyberbully and the psychology behind cyberbullies for each age group.  There are also different sections for prevention and taking action as well as descriptions of legislation that has been passed regarding cyberbullying.

State Cyberbullying Laws -- This pdf offers an excellent chart that breaks down the laws in each state. There are also links to each state's own website.