Simple program wards off bullying in schools

A deceptively simple program introduced in this country by Richardson elementary schools has shown a remarkable ability to cut down kid-on-kid oppression that can lead to bullying and violence, school officials say.

"There’s your time and my time. And now it’s time for R time," Kelly May told her class of eager second-graders at Mohawk Elementary School last month.

R time is one of many anti-bullying and character education curriculums used in schools. But unlike most of those, R time spends almost no time specifically addressing bullying or what to do about it.

That’s partly why it’s effective, said Jill Darling, student assistance programs director for the Richardson school district. Paradoxically, she said, some school programs that focus specifically on bullying and on student groups that are often victimized experience an increase in bullying, at least in the short term.

"In R time, the kids just learn to get along," she said.

By Jeffrey Weiss

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110507600_pf.html

(Many thanks to Alexandra Volkerts of Disability Rights Montana http://www.disabilityrightsmt.org for passing this along. )