NCJ Number
230625
Date Published
April 2008
Length
111 pages
Annotation
This study examined the perspectives of elementary and secondary public school principals on student bullying and harassment, as well as the policies, programs, and training that principals have instituted in their schools to address these issues, with attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student issues.
Abstract
Half of the principals surveyed viewed bullying, name-calling, or harassment of students as a serious problem at their schools. Although bullying, name-calling, and harassment are issues that principals of all grade levels are facing, it is particularly prevalent at the junior high/middle school level. Although principals have less contact with students than do teachers, most principals reported having heard students make sexist or homophobic remarks or use the expression "That's so gay" or "You're so gay" in a negative context. Most secondary school principals reported that male students who do not act "typically masculine" and LGBT students would not feel very safe at their schools. Both elementary and secondary schools are giving attention to increasing school safety and reducing bullying and harassment. These policies are most often characterized by procedures for students to report incidents of bullying or harassment and a description of consequences to students for engaging in bullying or harassing behavior; however, relatively few of schools' anti-bullying or anti-harassment efforts focus on increasing the safety of LGBT students or families. Only four in 10 secondary schools and one in nine elementary schools have engaged in efforts specifically designed to create a safe environment for LGBT students. Six in 10 principals reported that their professional development during the past school year addressed bullying or harassment, and fewer than 1 in 20 reported that these efforts addressed LGBT issues. A nationally representative sample of 1,580 K-12 public school principals participated in the online survey. Extensive exhibits and appended survey methodology and questionnaire