Cooperation between parents, teachers, and school boards to prevent bullying in education: An overview of work done in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, bullying had long been recognised as a problem at the i ndividual level, and many small-scale initiatives had been taken, but the s ubject was not part of the Dutch social agenda. Results of some scientific research in 1992 were more or less ignored. Some years later one of the Dut ch Parents Associations took the initiative in discussing bullying at the n ational level, Using the previous research, the four Dutch Parents Associat ions then started working together, developing a National Protocol Against Bullying in Education and presenting this to the media, and to all primary and secondary schools, in 1995, In 1997, the Associations presented a Bully ing Test, a computer program that gives pupils in the classroom the opportu nity to answer questions about many aspects of bullying; afterward the teac her can easily get an overview and base policy and action on the findings. Nowadays, no school in the Netherlands is unaware of bullying as a real pro blem. The subject is discussed regularly in schools and in the media. The A ssociations are planning new incentives to help all parties involved reduce bullying and prevent it as far as is possible. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.