Bullying by the Numbers

November 18th, 2009 By: Diane Trim in Articles, School Climate, Teachers' Corner

Teen pop and TV star Demi Lovato has joined the National Center for Bullying Prevention. Lovato, 17, was homeschooled from the age of 12 because of bullying problems. Lovato has a successful TV show for teens and a music career; however, most bullying victims don’t fare as well.

In the classroom, so much of the bullying happens covertly and is tough to see, so many of us teachers don’t realize just how widespread the problem is.

• According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2007), about one-third of middle and high school students reported that they’d been bullied in the last six months.
• The American Medical Association estimates that two-thirds of students think that schools don’t respond well to bullying. That same study found that 25% of teachers think that bullying is normal behavior and just 4% intervene on behalf of students.
• Bullying victims are sick more often. They suffer from the common cold, from stomach cramps, headaches, sore throats, and sleep problems (Journal of the American Medical Association)
• Bullying victims miss school. According to the National Education Association, 160,000 students stay home every day because they’re too afraid to come to class.
• Students who bully in elementary school keep the bullying pattern throughout their school years. (Scientific American Special Edition)
• Bullies don’t suffer from low self-esteem. They’re usually dominant kids and pretty popular, too. They rise to the top of the social order by picking on others. (Scientific American Special Edition)

Tags: bullying