A new Canadian program is reducing school-based bullying
behavior by changing attitudes in the classroom. University of
Alberta researchers use the educational program to rid schools
of bullying behavior specifically directed at students who
stutter. The program has been so effective at changing attitudes
in the classroom that researchers say the template could be used
to modify other undesirable behaviors. Currently, the Teasing
and Bullying Unacceptable Behavior (TAB) program is taught
province-wide to students in grades 3 to 6 to reduce teasing and
bullying directed at children with differences—particularly
children who stutter. A new study by TAB creator Marilyn
Langevin, Ph.D., shows the program is getting bullies, victims
and bystanders to recognize bullying behavior and deem it
unacceptable. “Attitudes predict behaviors. If we’re going to
get behavior to change, a first-level intervention is changing
attitudes in the classroom,” said Langevin. “TAB program is one
of the building blocks of change.” Chil