Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States : a Survey of Students and Teachers

The current study examines school climate, student experiences and teacher practices at the elementary school level. In this study, students in elementary school were asked about their school climates, including hearing biased remarks, witnessing and experiencing bullying as well as lessons they received on bullying, gender issues and family diversity. Elementary school teachers were asked similar questions about school climate, as well as questions about attitudes and efforts toward students with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) parents and students who may not conform to traditional gender norms, their schools' anti-bullying or harassment efforts and their own professional development experiences. The findings from this study provide an important context for the discussion of bullying and harassment across school grades and insight into the precursors of the types of biased language and bullying that characterize secondary schools, particularly the middle school years when bullying and harassment are most prevalent. Findings in Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States came from online surveys conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of GLSEN among 1,065 U.S.A. elementary school students in 3rd to 6th grade and 1,099 U.S. elementary school teachers of Kindergarten to 6th grade. The national sample was drawn primarily from the Harris Poll Online (HPOL) opt-in panel and supplemented with sample from trusted partner panels.