A safe school environment is critical for students'
learning and well-being. Schools are safer when school staff, students, parents
and community agencies work together to prevent bullying, exclusion and sexual harassment.
Bullying is when a person tries to hurt another person, and does
it more than once. It can be physical, verbal, or social, and can also take
place over the internet with emails or text messages. Sometimes a group of
students will bully others. Exclusion
is when students feel excluded or treated unfairly at school because of
ethnic or cultural background, gender, social class, sexual orientation,
religion, disability, or other perceived categorical boundary. Sexual
harassment is any unwanted or inappropriate language or touching that
makes a person feel upset, hurt or angry. Exclusion and sexual harassment are
forms of bullying, and often students that are excluded or harassed are victims
of other forms of bullying. Students who are bullied are prone to experiencing
low self esteem, anxiety, depression, and disaffection from school. In extreme cases
bullying can lead to suicide.
Key Findings from the Research
· * Data from Tell Them From Me surveys
in 2009-10 found students who reported being victims of bullying were five-and-a-half times as likely to be suffering depression, and
were almost three times as likely to have a low sense of belonging at school.
They were also less likely to be intellectually engaged.
· * Schools vary in their reported prevalence
of moderate and severe bullying. In 2009-10, data from Tell Them From Me found
that among middle schools the prevalence of moderate and severe bullying varied
from 4% to 52%, with one-half of all schools having a prevalence between 24%
and 35%. The prevalence of moderate and severe bullying reported was less in
secondary schools; on average it was 22% compared with the middle school
average of 29%.
· * There are several actions schools can take
to prevent bullying, exclusion and sexual harassment. School staff must be able to recognize
different forms of bullying and be willing to step in when they observe a
student being bullied. Positive school
policies and practices can make it safe for students to report bullying when it
occurs and ensure that there are clear consequences for bullying that are consistently
enforced. Schools can help equip students with appropriate strategies to deal
with bullying, exclusion and sexual harassment.
· * Data from students can help school staff
develop positive practices and policies.
