ARLINGTON, Texas – A new study finds that anti-bullying programs not only don’t prevent bullying, they might actually be instructing wannabe bullies in the way it’s done.

That’s the conclusion University of Texas at Arlington criminologist Seokjin Jeong reached after analyzing data collected from 7,000 students all across the U.S., reports CBSDFW.com.

“(It’s) a very disappointing and a very surprising thing,” Jeong said. “Our anti-bullying programs, either intervention or prevention, do not work.”

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The study also determined schools without bullying awareness programs had fewer bullying victims, while those with anti-bullying campaigns might actually see an increase in the hurtful behavior, CBSDFW.com reports.

What gives?

Jeong says anti-bullying videos might be having the perverse effect of showing kids new and different ways of hurting their peers, such as through social media and texting.

Some programs go a step further and “even teach students how to bully without leaving evidence behind,” the news site reports.

Here’s a common sense idea: Instead of explaining the ins and outs of bullying, maybe principals and teachers should just tell students that disrespectful and threatening behavior of any kind will not be tolerated  – and then follow it up with strict enforcement.

If our schools had a few more Ward Cleavers and a few less Dr. Phils, this bullying problem might just take care of itself.