Bridgework Theater creates and performs plays that address urgent problems faced by children and youth.  In 2001, Bridgework created a play that addresses the problem of bullying.  The play, Crossing the Line, is designed for children in 5-8.  During the spring of 2002, Bridgework performed Crossing the Line for 35,000 children in ten states.

 

 

The goal of Crossing the Line is to increase the ability of participants to prevent bullying.  The objective of the program is that students who participate in Crossing the Line will demonstrate at least one of the following:

 

·        Increased willingness to take action to stop bullying behavior

·        Decreased willingness to blame the person being hurt

·        Decreased tolerance of bullying behavior

·        Increased confidence in ability to stop bullying behavior

·        Increased confidence in knowing a range of ways to help victims

 

The Play and Related Activities ‑ Program Description

 

Bridgework's program consists of:

 

1.  A live performance of Crossing the Line, a 40 minute play

2.  A classroom activity session led by a classroom teacher

3.  A student handout that lists strategies for dealing with bullies.

4.  A list of resources that schools can use to create or improve an ongoing bully prevention program

 

Evaluation Design

 

Bridgework's evaluator compared the attitudes of a group of young people who had not participated in the program (control group) with the attitudes of a similar group of young people who had seen the play (participants). 

 

Statement (1): The next time I see someone being bullied, I (will, probably will, don’t know if I will, probably will not, will not) try to do something about it.   The statement measured willingness to take action to stop bullying behavior.

 

Statement (2): When I think about the bullying that goes on in my school, I believe that it is (always the victim’s fault, usually the victim’s fault, half and half, usually the bully’s fault, always the bully’s fault).   The statement measured willingness to blame the person being hurt.

 

Statement (3): Some people think bullying is a very serious problem and we should do everything possible to stop it.  Other people think that bullying happens, but it’s not a big deal.  I (strongly disagree, disagree, sort of agree and sort of disagree, agree, strongly agree) with the people who think it happens, but it’s no big deal.  The statement measured tolerance of bullying behavior.

 

Statement (4): I (strongly doubt, doubt, am not sure, believe, strongly believe) that the next time I see someone getting bullied, I can do something to stop it.  The statement measured confidence in ability to stop bullying behavior.

 

Statement (5): I (strongly believe, believe, am not sure, doubt, strongly doubt) that I know lots of things to help someone who is being bullied.  The statement measured confidence in knowing a range of ways to help.

 

The evaluator received completed tests from a total of 474 students.  Of those students, 238 were in the control group and 236 were in test group.

 

Scoring

 

 

Results

 

The difference between responses of the control group and test group were significantly different (and were in the desired direction) for statements 4 and 5.  The results indicate that the program caused decreased willingness to blame the person being hurt and decreased tolerance of bullying behavior.  Crossing the Line accomplished its objective.

 

 

		Statement 1	Statement 2	Statement 3	Statement 4	Statement 5
Mean, Control Group		1.97	3.62	2.26	3.60	2.26
Mean, Test Group		2.03	3.74	2.07	3.56	2.35
Z-score (Control compared to Test)		.60	1.70	2.08	.047	1.06
p value		p>.1	p<.05	p<.025	p>.1	p.>1
Desired Direction?		Insignificant Change	Yes	Yes	Insignificant Change	Insignificant Change