Bullying at School Among Older Adolescents

School bullying is often considered to be the fuel behind school violence. In a recent report by the Families and Work Institute, students reported that is was the small things, such as teasing, which often triggered serious episodes of violence. On the school campus, between 20 to 30% of the students report frequent involvement in bullying incidents as either the victim or the bully.

This article reports on research conducted at schools in three different states, among youth in grades 8 to 12. The kinds of bullying observed, where it occurs, students' experiences with being bullied, and their perceptions of teachers' and administrators' interest in stopping bullying are all examined. This article concludes with recommendations for reducing bullying in the school, including being aware of the harmfulness of bullying, building trusting relationships on campus, and knowing how to help in bullying situations.