Parent Information Center: Violence Prevention

Facts About Bullying

Children who are victimized tend to display “vulnerable behaviors” and are often singled out as victims.
U.S. surveys show that 1 in 4 kids have been bullied school.
1/3 of children report being kicked, hit or pushed on a frequent basis.
8% of students missed 1 day of school per month in fear of bullies.
43% of students fear harassment in the bathroom at school.
1 out of 5 know someone who carries a gun to school.
282,000 students are physically attacked in the secondary schools each month.
More violence occurs on school grounds than on the way to school.
80% of the time, an argument with a bully ends up in a fight.
1/3 of students surveyed said they heard another student threaten to kill someone.
Almost half of all students surveyed said they know someone who is capable of murder.
Playground statistics show that every 7 minutes a child is bullied. Adult intervention = $5; peer intervention = 11%; no intervention = 85%.
46% of males and 26% of females reported they had been in physical fights.
Teachers are also assaulted, bullied, robbed. 84 crimes per 1,000 teachers per year.
Other children may “go along” and defend the victim in fear of becoming the bully’s next target.
Victim’s often suffer in silence because they feel nothing can be done. They become isolated, depressed and may resort to violence against self of others.
Often parents of bullies support their child’s aggressive behavior towards other children.
Bullying behaviors can be identified as early as preschool.
By age 24, up to 60% of childhood bullies have at least one criminal conviction.
Children who are identified as a bully at age 8 often remain bullies throughout their lives and as adults require more support from government agencies, i.e. alcoholism, court convictions, anti-social personality disorders and mental health issues.
Sometimes victims do not survive the torture and humiliation. Children who are repeatedly victimized may see suicide as their only escape. Others survive but carry the scars for a lifetime.

This page has had visitors since January 4, 2004
This page was last updated on January 4, 2004 by Ted Bergeron
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