Special Resource Material Developed by the Center
Title: A University Student’s Perspective on Bullying Prevention in Schools (Information Resource)
Description: As part of her university experiences, Kathryn Moffa worked at the Center for
Mental Health in Schools at UCLA. In January 2013 she also began working
in a local elementary school as a second grade teaching assistant. Her
responsibilities included helping supervise the playground during recess and
lunch. To her dismay, she observed a good deal of bullying behavior, both
overt and covert, among all age groups.
Katie realized she knew too little about bullying and how to handle the
situations she was encountering. And when she observed what other assistants did, she saw that each responded differently and not very effectively. Moreover, she noted that the motivation underlying a bully’s behavior was rarely considered or addressed. She asked if training was provided and learned that there wasn’t any. (A bullying poster in the lunch area and an assembly held in May was how the school formally addressed the problem. “Most conflicts were resolved by making sure the victim received an apology from the bully, and then both parties were sent in separate directions.”)
To inform herself, Katie used the Center’s resources to learn more. This led to
a decision to share her perspective as another type of information for those
using the Center’s resources. This brief product highlights what she learned
and wanted to share organized around four topics:
I. The Long-Term Effects on Bullies of Engaging in Bullying;
II. School Policies to Address Bullying;
III. An Outline of Techniques and Strategies for Bullying Prevention that Can Be Implemented in Schools Today:
IV. Where Schools Can Readily Access Effective Resources Access at: http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/bullyingpers.pdf 182kb; 7pp
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