Youth Voice Project: Student Insights Into Bullying and Peer Mistreatment

In the landmark Youth Voice Project research study, authors Stan Davis and Charisse L. Nixon add youth voices to the national debate about bullying and peer mistreatment. They surveyed more than 13,000 students in 31 schools in the United States to determine which actions were most helpful for bullied and mistreated youth. This book presents what they learned from those students and presents major new directions in effective bullying prevention work. This book presents a set of research-based, practical techniques for reducing the harm that bullying can do, building positive schoolwide behavior norms; increasing kind, inclusive behavior by peers; and addressing bias-focused bullying behavior. The book will help practitioners and policy makers listen to youth and improve their effectiveness in this crucial field.Students views of what works and doesn t work in response to bullying are enlightening and sometimes surprising: When asked what made things better or worse in a bullying situation, youth reported that actions involving peer alliance and friendship made things better and that it was effective to access help from others. However, some classic adult advice for youth on bullying, such as telling them to stop and telling them how they're making you feel, actually made things worse more often than they helped youth.

Bridging the gap between research and practice, the text offers specific, workable suggestions for educators, administrators, parents, and all other stakeholders. Conclusions focus on ways to make schools safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for learning specifically, by promoting efforts to improve school connections, social equity, and what the authors call the Four Rs : respect, relationships, resiliency, and responsiveness.