A research program led by a Cornell economist revealed that involving disadvantaged middle school students to teach younger peers effectively reduces disciplinary issues and enhances academic performance. The successful approach relies on understanding adolescent behavior, emphasizing the need for social status, autonomy, and respect. Following its success in Turkey, where data was gathered from 18,000 students across 65 schools, discussions are underway with educators in various countries, including the U.S., to apply this low-cost intervention in different contexts. This strategy not only supports individual behavior change but also positively influences peers due to social connections.
"We show that you can change behavior on a massive scale, including for the kids whose behavior you want to change and also for their friends, because of the social linkages in middle schools."
"You have to allow them to change their own behavior willingly. You have to give them what they actually need, and that is social status, that is autonomy, and that is respect."
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