One of the most difficult aspects for schools to deal with is cyber-bullying. It can be hard to control because it often happens off school grounds, and after hours.
Almost 15% of American high school students have been cyber-bullied. More than 90% of them have been bullied offline as well. School administrators say they need to hear about it from students or parents.
Social media only complicates the situation, making it very difficult for school administrators to handle everything. When the bullying takes place on social media it tends to boil over into the school day, creating disruptions.
Administrators can take action if the situation is causing a distraction, even if the bullying occurred off school grounds.
Studies have found that school-based anti-bullying programs reduce bullying by up to 25%. Students, however, are an even better solution. 57% of bullying situations end when a bystander intervenes on behalf of the victim.
A government study shows that LGBTQ students are significantly more likely to be bullied at school and online. They’re also more likely to be victims of sexual or physical dating violence than straight teens.
The potential exists for bullying over bathrooms this fall because of the new federal gender-identity guidelines.
