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New Stats On Bullying

Social Issues – The issue of school bullying has been propelled into the media spotlight over the past several years, shedding light on the daily abuse endured by children across the country. As more statistics become available, the impact of the torment is becoming clear. A recent report released by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) suggests that victims of bullying are prone to falling behind on attendance, which only makes sense.

“Parents and schools across the country worry about the devastating harm bullying can cause, and we share this concern for our nation’s children[...]This new study highlights the impact of bullying and recommends effective anti-bullying strategies that schools can implement to keep students safe,” said OJJDP Acting Administrator, Jeff Slowikowski.

To stifle the bullying statistics, the OJJDP recommends that schools:

• Offer mentoring programs
• Provide students with opportunities for community service
• Address the difficult transition between elementary and middle school (from one single classroom teacher to teams of teachers with periods and class changes in a large school)
• Start prevention programs early.

Sadly, anti-bullying campaigns haven’t always been taken so seriously, but between 1999 and 2010, more than 120 bills were included in state legislatures to “introduce or amend legislation that address bullying, harassment or similar behavior in schools. Earlier this year, New Jersey passed a law requiting anti-bullying policies for all of the state’s public schools-officially recognized at the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.”

With the increasing awareness, public school Anti-Bullying programs can make an extreme difference when it comes to the quiet victims of social abuse.

Read More at Huffpo.