April 29, 2013
It used to be spitballs. But bullying today – as highlighted in media and entertainment and by a growing number of nonprofits – is increasingly severe, damaging to students (psychologically and physically), and disruptive to classrooms.
In New Jersey alone, more than 26,000 incidents of violence and bullying were reported in 2011 in accordance with a new statewide anti-bullying law. Data from the NJ Department of Education show that nearly half of these reported incidents involved bullying, and that bullying incidents more than tripled in 2012 to an additional 12,024 cases – up from about 3,400 in 2010-11.
In New Jersey, bullying is most prevalent among high school students; it can include incidents in five categories:
1. violence;
2. vandalism;
3. harassment, intimidation and bullying;
4. weapons use, sale or possession; and
5. substance use, sale or possession.
And the consequences are equally troubling – serious injury, emotional trauma, and suicide, in some cases.
According to the US Department of Education, fear of being bullied causes over 160,000 students to miss school each day. Higher drop-out rates and poor academic performance are, in many cases, directly linked to bullying incidents or fear of violent retaliation for reporting bullying.
Where local laws fail to define or protect against bullying, parents and school districts are ramping up efforts to understand and prevent bullying and violence among elementary and high school students. Initiatives like The Bully Project are working to increase awareness and collect data. With its “1 Million Kids Campaign,” The Bullying Project partners with students, schools and community organizations to foster bullying prevention and promote safer learning environments.
Here in New Jersey, in the wake of several student suicides, the legislature passed the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act in 2011. The new law extends the definition of bullying to include off-campus incidents, outlines reporting procedures, and calls for increased state funding for implementation. In March 2012, Governor Chris Christie signed legislation allocating $1 million for anti-bullying training programs in schools. As awareness increases among students, faculty, staff and parents, schools are better able to address the issues of bullying and violence.
Integrating anti-bullying training programs in school curriculums is a key step in solving the problem. Understanding the conditions that drive bullying and allow it to persist begins with education and awareness – upheld by community support. Contact the Community Foundation to find out how you can stand up for students and support anti-bullying programs in local schools.