PAX Pilot Overview

PAX teaches students autonomous self-control and self-management through collaborating with others for peace, productivity, health & happiness. PAX is an evidence-based, childhood mental health promotion strategy which combines the science from PeaceBuilders, Good Behavior Game & other studies.

PAX is a set of tools and strategies used by teachers and students that creates conditions for active teaching and lifelong learning. PAX results in immediate and long-term engaged learning. Longitudinal studies have shown that students who participate in PAX in Grade One do better in, and are more likely to graduate from school, need fewer special education services, have better mental health (including less suicidal thoughts/attempts), fewer smoking, alcohol and drug addictions, and are less involved in crime, into their adult years. The return on investment is $65.00 in benefits for every $1 invested in PAX.

The Seine River School Division piloted PAX in spring 2010 in all K-8 classrooms in all their schools. Results demonstrated an immediate 45 per cent decrease in the number of interruptions in Grade One classrooms. Based on that, and the long-term research, the province, school divisions, and the Central Regional Health Authority planned the implementation and funding of a two-year RCT of PAX in schools across Manitoba.

The Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet directed a province-wide cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) for all interested Grade One classes in all areas of Manitoba, including First Nation communities. Manitoba launched the province-wide, $1.3-million RCT pilot of PAX in the 2011/12 school year. All schools with Grade One students were invited to participate in the pilot. Approximately 200 schools from all regions of the province expressed interest. Principals and Grade One Teachers attended two days of training. An RCT was implemented, with half of the schools implementing the PAX Game in 2011/12, the remaining schools implementing PAX in the 2012/13 school year. Classroom and student level information was collected to assess the outcomes for PAX and non-PAX classrooms. Approximately 200 Schools with 5,000 children participated in the RCT (2011/12 to 2012/13 school years). Training sessions for replacement and new Grade One teachers and principals are continuing.

The preliminary evaluation results have been released and are promising. Compared to children in schools not yet doing PAX, Grade 1 children who participated in PAX:

    • have significantly fewer conduct problems (e.g., bullying other children),
    • have significantly fewer emotional problems (e.g., feeling anxious or depressed) , and
    • show significantly more prosocial behaviour (e.g., sharing with and helping others)

News Release: Pax Launched Provincewide

What is PAX? (PDF)

PAX: First Provincewide in Canada (PDF)

What do the longitudinal studies on PAX GBG show? (PDF)

Improving the Early Mental Health and Well-Being of Manitoba's Children: First Findings from the Provincewide Pilot and the Evaluation of PAX (PDF) | January 2016
Preliminary Results for PAX Provincial Evaluation

February 28, 2014: CTV Winnipeg: PAX game helps kids improve behaviour
Jon Hendricks reports on a development strategy designed to help kids learn social and emotional skills.

February 9, 2012: CBC National story on PAX in Manitoba

PAX Videos:

PAX in First Nation Schools in Manitoba (2013): PAX program in First Nation schools incorporating Cree language – a first in the world.

 

PAX in Francophone Schools in Manitoba (2013): Teachers and students develop “the most wonderful school vision” for PAX in Francophone schools in Manitoba.

 

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