[Decreasing violence in the school: study of a cooperative intervention]

Can physically aggressive behavior among pupils be reduced by some easily applicable interventions? The teaching staffs of four elementary schools were advised (1) to hold regular classroom meetings (on rules of behavior, helping attacked peers etc), (2) to stop acute aggressive behavior and encourage positive behavior, and (3) to change some situational factors (especially during break-time). Preliminary results suggest that a highly committed staff can reduce aggressive behavior by these interventions. Further study is needed, however, as to the contribution of individual measures and the extent and stability of the effects to be obtained.