Bullying

“Some studies show that as many as 30 percent of American students report “frequent” bullying experiences, both as instigators and as victims (Nansel et al., 2001). Other research indicates as many as 44 percent of students are bullied at least once per year (Haynie et al., 2001)… The research of Nansel and colleagues (2001) and others highlights an increase in bullying behaviors during early adolescence (Pellegrini & Long, 2002), affi rming the importance of prevention and intervention work, such as the TeamMates [Mentoring] program, during the transition from elementary to middle school. The impact of bullying on individual students is substantial. Victims feel less connected to peers, adults, and the school itself. They tend to have poorer relations with classmates, participate less in extracurricular activities, and experience increased feelings of loneliness and isolation (Nansel et al., 2001; Resnick et al., 1997). Victims are more likely to experience depression and anxiety and attempt suicide (Graham & Juvonen, 2001). And if one doubts the negative impact bullying can have on an entire community, research conducted by the Secret Service indicates that 71 percent of school shooters had been victims of bullying (Vossekuil, Fein, Reddy, Borum, & Modzeleski, 2002)…

One longitudinal study of male bullies in grades six through nine found that 60 percent of them were incarcerated by the age of 24 (Olweus, 1991)… A 2007 Gallup research project found that almost 44 percent of participating students improved their grades, 72 percent reduced their number of disciplinary referrals, and 86 percent improved their school attendance.”

–Bullying Prevention and Intervention: TeamMates Mentoring Program Lincoln Public Schools, Garringer 2008, http://educationnorthwest.org/webfm_send/297