Extent of the Bullying Problem
Extensive studies in other countries during the 1980s and 1990s generally found that
between 8 and 38 percent of students are bullied with some regularity,† and that between
five and nine percent of students bully others with some regularity. Chronic victims of
bullying, bullied once a week or more, generally constitute between 8 and 20 percent of the
student population.7
In the United States, fewer studies have been done. A recent study of a nationally
representative sample of students found higher levels of bullying in America than in
some other countries. Thirteen percent of sixth- through tenth-grade students bully, 10
percent reported being victims, and an additional six percent are victim-bullies.8 This
study excluded elementary-age students (who often experience high levels of bullying) and
did not limit bullying to school grounds. Several smaller studies from different parts of
the country confirm high levels of bullying behaviors, with 10 to 29 percent of students
reported to be either bullies or victims. 9, ‡
...
A Threshold Problem: The Reluctance To Report
Most students do not report bullying to adults. Surveys from a variety of countries confirm
that many victims and witnesses fail to tell teachers or even parents.10 As a result, teachers
may underestimate the extent of bullying in their school and may be able to identify only
a portion of the actual bullies.
Studies also suggest that children do not believe that most
teachers intervene when told about bullying.11
“If the victims are as miserable as the research suggests, why don’t they appeal for help?
One reason may be that, historically, adults’ responses have been so disappointing.”12
In a survey of American middle and high school students, “66 percent of victims of
bullying believed school professionals responded poorly to the bullying problems that
they observed.”13 Some of the reasons victims gave for not telling include:
• Fearing retaliation
• Feeling shame at not being able to stand up for themselves
• Fearing they would not be believed
• Not wanting to worry their parents
•
Having no confidence that anything would change as a result
...In
fact, in comparing schools with high and low bullying rates, some research suggests
that a principal’s investment in preventing and controlling bullying contributes
to low rates.6...
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e07063414-guide.pdf