Shaping Estonian primary school pupils’ values by using bullying-prevention methods

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to identify to what extent using the methodology of the programme ‘Bullying-free school’, initiated in the Kingdom of Denmark in 2007 and implemented in schools in Estonia since 2013, has supported the development of ethical values in primary school pupils. The methodology focuses on four value attitudes: tolerance, respect, consideration and courage, and achieving these through developing a behavioural culture that attaches value to oneself, fellow-pupils and adults. The data were collected by means of a semi-structured focus group interview, addressing pupils’ behaviour, experience and feelings.

The study revealed that the bullying-prevention programme has developed joint values in school classes – tolerance, consideration, respect and courage, as well as an ability to think about these values and discuss them. Better results have been achieved in the classes where bullying prevention is conducted systematically and consistently.

KEYWORDS:

• Value judgements
• value attitudes
• values education
• bullying prevention

Notes on contributors

Sirje Piht, MA, is a lecturer in primary school education at the School of Educational Sciences of the Tallinn University, Estonia. Her main areas of research interest are behavior problems at school, math learning and mental arithmetic, play-based learning.

Leida Talts, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus in Primary Education at the School of Educational Sciences of the Tallinn University, Estonia. Her main areas of research interest are value education and sustainable development in teacher education and trainings.

Sigrit Nigulas, MA, is Laagri School's Primary School and Remedial Teacher. Her main areas of research interest are value education and behavior problems.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the project ‘Kindergartens and Schools free of Bullying’ which is leaded by Estonian Union for Child Welfare and funded through the EEA Programme ‘Children and Youth in Risk’.