October 2003

• Overall, there was a small decrease in the percentage of students that reported that they had been teased or hit, kicked, or pushed at least once a month. The percentage of students that indicated they were teased in a mean way at least once month decreased by 13%, while the percentage that reported being hit, kicked, or pushed decreased by 17%.
• The percentage of students that indicated that they had witnessed others being teased, called hurtful names, or hit kicked or pushed at least once a month decreased. There was approximately a 15% decrease in the percentage that witnessed teasing, and a 13% decrease in those that reported witnessing name-calling or physical bullying at least once a month.
• There were no changes in where students reported feeling safe or unsafe. There were some decreases in the percentage of students that witnessed bullying in the classroom, playground, hall, bus and/or bus stop at least once a month. The largest decreases were seen in students reporting of witnessing bullying at least once a month on the bus (decreased by 25%) and/or at the bus stop (decrease by 45%).
• There was little change in students’ responses to bullying. The percentage of students that indicated the situation got better after they told someone increased from 48% to 58%, between the beginning of the program and the end of the year.
• There was little change in the gender or grade of the students whom respondents reported had been doing the bullying.
• There was a decrease in the percentage of students that indicated they tease, say mean things to, or hit, kick or push other students at least once a month. The largest decreases were seen in students’ reporting of saying mean things (decreased by 22%) or hitting, kicking, or pushing others (decreased by 23%).

Bullying Prevention Education Program
Maine Law & Civics Education
Pamela B. Anderson, Co-Director
Email: pamelaa@usm.maine.edu
Phone: 207-780-4159