Sorry, the correct answer is
32%
In the school year of 2006–07, about 8 million students (ages 12 through 18) reported they were bullied at school. That's 32% -- or one third! -- of all students in that age range in the U.S.
What can we do to stop school bullying and help our children grow up with healthy relationships?
Can you help us reach our goal of 1,000 responses?
What percentage of U.S. students get bullied at school each year?
- Posted to Stop Bullying in Schools!… by Emily Petra Bookstein
855 people took the quiz
How many U.S. children do you think are bullied each year in school?
From Amanda Todd's suicide to the shootings at Columbine, bullying has caused many tragic incidents over the years. The National Center for Education Statistics writes, "Bullying is now recognized as a widespread and often neglected problem in schools that has serious implications for victims of bullying and for those who perpetrate the bullying."
Keep in mind that these are the reported cases of bullying. So many children never tell an adult, afraid of retaliation by the bullies -- or afraid that the adults can't help. (And this quiz doesn't even include cyber-bullying.)
What can we do about bullying?
1. Learn to recognize the signs of bullying. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or online (harassing or threatening emails, text messages or posts). Here are some warning signs*:
- Damaged or missing clothing or other personal belongings
- Unexplained bruises or other injuries
- Few friends or close contacts
- Reluctance to go to school or ride the school bus
- Poor school performance
- Headaches, stomachaches or other physical complaints
- Trouble sleeping or eating
2. Take it seriously. Encourage your child to share what's happening with you and be supportive by listening empathetically. Talk with your child about some ways to deal with bullying. Contact school officials and be persistent if the problem doesn't stop. In some cases, professional or school counseling might be necessary.
(*Source: Mayo Clinic, "Bullying")
This quiz is based on the 2006 research findings of the National Center for Education Statistics. You can also read the full report.
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Update #1
Posted by Emily Petra Bookstein (Campaign Leader) on Feb 8Hello,
I made this quiz because I was shocked to learn that 1/3 of all students reported being bullied at school.
But what's even more shocking is that this is only the number of students who actually admit to being hurt, teased, hit, or otherwise bullied. The true percentage of students who are bullied is certainly higher than 32%! Thank you to everyone who made this point by commenting on the discussion board. A few of you are long-time educators yourselves and know first-hand how many kids...
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Discuss the quiz
My grandson has been being bullied since December and the school has done nothing. Last week he came out of school with broken glasses and a black eye. The school did not even call us. So much for zero tolerance. Anyone have any advice?
I am so broken hearted. Children should not be afraid to go to school. It's terrible.
Sandy, that is so sad to hear. Did you ever hear back from someone with good advice for you? I'd like to know myself.
Why would u go around bullying little kids for it's just mean and spitfull
I'm not surprised I got the quiz answer wrong, and so did the majority of responders. For every person who reported being bullied, how many fail to report it for fear of retaliation?
That too. There's a stigma for reporting problems to others and not handling it on your own. Many kids are told they need to "fight [their] own battles." The school playground and gymnasium are not unlike prisons in that people are expected to resolve all disputes with their bare fists.
Popular media doesn't help matters either. Video games get a much greater share of the blame than movies, either because it is an interactive entertainment medium, or because Hollywood is much more deeply entrenched than Nintendo. When I was in school, the Karate Kid series was out in theaters, and the message was this: "In this day and age, people can just randomly walk up to you, beat you up, and steal anything you value, all for no good reason. It's YOUR fault if they do, because you didn't adequately defend yourself." Professional karate instructors and weapon store owners carried this message as well, as a sleazy way to sell martial arts training lessons and pepper spray.
Every time there's a school shooting, without fail, the media and politicians go after the same two scapegoats, video games and guns, and they remain conspicuously silent about the real two sources of the problem. One is the lack of parental presence and guidance. The other is the explosion of prescriptions for powerful mind-altering drugs sold to schoolchildren who never needed them in the first place. Apparently Big Pharma is just as entrenched as Hollywood.
I raise my granddaughter and she has been bullied for 2yrs now if not a few more. Last yr. it got bad enough that I ended up homeschooling her. I since put her back in school again but yes it has continued. Last yr. the guidance councilor told her to ignore it. Then she sat in my face and lied to me and told me she never told my granddaughter to ignore it. The reason I know she did do it is because there has been other kids that has told me that she has told them also to ignore it. But my...
…I raise my granddaughter and she has been bullied for 2yrs now if not a few more. Last yr. it got bad enough that I ended up homeschooling her. I since put her back in school again but yes it has continued. Last yr. the guidance councilor told her to ignore it. Then she sat in my face and lied to me and told me she never told my granddaughter to ignore it. The reason I know she did do it is because there has been other kids that has told me that she has told them also to ignore it. But my granddaughter needs to be around other people or kids that is just the way she is so I put her back in school. It is still going on. They tell her to kill herself that is worthless. No one likes her. And calls her all them names that I won't put down her. She is 12 yrs old she is none of that. And what is sick about it is that the principle says he thinks it starts at home from the other kids well there is no way it can be since I don't let her go no where cause if I did she would have to fight all the time and that is what I am trying not to let happen. She shouldn't have to fight just to go out and enjoy herself. It makes me sick and makes me so upset at times I just want to shout at the authorities at school to make them do something about all of it but they don't and won't. Yes I need help and don't know where to turn at.
School officials just get sick of hearing about it after a while and start telling the bullied kids to just learn to fight their own battles. Unfortunately, they only respond to negative reinforcement, and you have to put the pressure on and threaten litigation in order to get anything done. Personally, I think the only way we can curb bullying is through vigilante justice.
Tami, I'm so sorry to hear about your granddaughter! It's so terrible that anyone would tell her "just ignore it" as if the problem is that she's just sensitive or something. It's social cruelty for other kids to be so blatantly mean. It seems like teachers and administrators just don't know what to do about it.
As a retired teacher and working years with Special Needs children...including my own...I believe 32% is way too low. Many,many incidents go unreported and I recorded. Wake Up World!
Thanks for pointing this out, Mimi. 32% probably is too low because that's only reported cases, just like you said. What do you think should be done about bullying?
since you are a retired teacher what did you do about it and in Black communities like Detroit it is 100% if you are a White male student???? Alabama???????
I know from personal experience how bad this is. I was bullied when I went to school back in the 50's. I was so mad back then that if I had access to a firearm, I feel that with the hate building up inside of me, I would have used the firearm. My experience was in the 50's, todays kids have much more stress on them than I ever did. My outlet was to go into the service. Today's kids have nowhere to turn. The family unit is almost non-existent so the kids feel trapped with no way out. ...
…I know from personal experience how bad this is. I was bullied when I went to school back in the 50's. I was so mad back then that if I had access to a firearm, I feel that with the hate building up inside of me, I would have used the firearm. My experience was in the 50's, todays kids have much more stress on them than I ever did. My outlet was to go into the service. Today's kids have nowhere to turn. The family unit is almost non-existent so the kids feel trapped with no way out. We need to find a way to address this and let the kids know there is a place where they can turn to get help without recrimination.
See my above post about being harassed in the 80's. The acts of hate not only continued but intensified through the years, and it only stopped when my parents did the right thing and transferred me to a private school after the 10th grade. I consider myself privileged to have grown up in the home that I did. You're absolutely right about the family unit - way too many kids these days are not so lucky. Every time I hear about another school shooting incident, the first thing I ask is, "Where were the parents?"
Bruce, you're right. Bullying goes way beyond just the school. It has roots in family structure and how safe kids feel. It's really sad that bullying becomes an outlet for stress and that there's few places kids feel safe.