New Bullying Report: 1 In 4 Mass. Students Victims

In a first-of-its kind study, statistics reveal that one-fourth of Massachusetts' middle schoolers have been bullied at school.

The report by the state Department of Public Health found links between family dynamics and bullying, Boston.com reports.

The study reveals that students who were involved in bullying as either a victim or an aggressor were five times more likely to report they had been hurt physically by a family member. John Auerbach, Massachusetts public health commissioner, tells Boston.com that the findings will help inform training.

"If we are working with women who are victims of domestic violence, for instance, it is clear the children would need special supports to lessen the likelihood that they are victims or bullies'' or both victims and perpetrators, Auerbach said.

The study also indicated that 16 percent of high schoolers have been bullied. Both middle and high school students say they don't need numbers to know bullying is a problem at their schools.

Steve Marcelin, a senior at the Social Justice Academy high school in Hyde Park, tells Boston.com that when he moved from Haiti five years ago, he was bullied as he tried to learn English.

"Most of the time I felt powerless,'' Marcelin said. "I would try to, in school, keep a straight face, but at home I would cry.''

Springfield Middle Schooler Jessica Reyes tells CBS3 she hopes teachers will be a primary catalyst in bullying prevention.

"Teachers should actually step up and do something about it because there's teachers where you say things to them, but they don't care," Reyes said.

Because Massachusetts is the first state to conduct this type of bullying survey, it's not possible to compare results nationwide, Boston.com reports.

Comments

[DiMarco Newman]

05:12 PM on 05/05/2011

While this is consistent with national statistics (although some would say it is closer to 1 in 3), it is not any less disturbing. Another disturbing fact is that about 60% of middle school bullies will be either charged or indicted by the time they are 24. We need to cultivate accountability, empathy and respect in our schools. In our book, "When Your Child Is Being Bullied: Real Solutions", we discuss not only this topic, but solutions that actually work for families of bullied children. Parents can visit our site for free resources and tools: solutionsforbullying.com.

[veteran teacher]

07:18 PM on 04/27/2011

I bet 1 in 4 teachers could say that in their career, they have been bullied by a principal.

[AppleBaby]

09:37 AM on 04/27/2011

Parents of victims and victims feel powerless because no one is listening. Parents of bullies are to blame for breeding and raising such angry little creatures. Teachers need to get a spine and step in when they see bullying behavior.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:30 AM on 04/27/2011

Teachers are not mental health professionals and yet they are asked to keep kids with serious problems in check. Maybe CPS departments need more of a presence on school campuses.

[AppleBaby]

09:37 AM on 04/27/2011

it doesn't take a mental health professional to see bullying behavior.

[lauriemann]

06:19 PM on 04/26/2011

Most kids bully and many bully back. However, I know some kids are bullied more than others and that's what makes the difference. Also, children and adolescents are more vulnerable - it's been true for generations. The important thing to remember is that it does get better once you get out of high school (and Dave Savage was not the first person to figure that out though good for him for using his bully pulpit to remind teens of this). Most adults don't bully because they know better.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:32 AM on 04/27/2011

Adults do bully- look around your workplace, look around the grocery store, look at family gatherings, look anywhere and you'll see it.

[Austro-libertarian]

03:04 PM on 04/26/2011

who's now*

[Austro-libertarian]

03:00 PM on 04/26/2011

Children bullying is just a reflection of society. The rottenness of society is mirrored in how children are treated.

[southernlad7179]

02:53 PM on 04/26/2011

It's not surprising at all. Mass, where 1 in 4 adults is bullied just driving to work in the morning by other commuters. This state, where I lived for 10 years and thankfully got away from, is full of rage for some reason. It's sad, really, that a beautiful city like this has become a cesspool of violence and hatred.

I was bullied as a child in school and it was vicious. No one did anything, but I weathered through it. If only some of the restrictions that are in place now were available then, I might have been spared some of the emotional damage that came from such bullying. Those of you saying that everyone gets bullied and what constitutes as bullying should put yourself in the shoes of a 10 year old where any form of bullying is horrible.

But, to get back to my point, it is no surprise to me that 1 in 4 kids in Mass get bullied. The parents are at fault and that is because if you could spend one day at a "family day" in Boston or the surrounding suburbs, you would see the horrible values these people are putting on their children. It's sickening and I'm glad I escaped. I even had to move to a red state and feel more comfortable here than in that city.

[allier10]

10:45 PM on 04/26/2011

You are full of crap.

[abbienormal]

01:37 AM on 04/27/2011

On behalf of the people of the city of Boston, we are happy that you "escaped" too. It sounds like you are the one with the anger issues.

This is the first study on this topic. Has it ever occurred to you that the results would be even higher where you currently live? Plus, after the death of Phoebe Prince we all are more likely to talk with our kids about bullying and making sure that they understand what it means. That makes kids more likely to report bullying rather than considering that it is just a normal part of their lives.

[NMLurker]

02:48 PM on 04/26/2011

Many parents think by fixing a perceived "flaw" a child won't be bullied. Every child will be bullied for something so we need to concentrate on our similarities instead of our differences and it all starts at home. Our children's self esteem starts from within and should be our main concerns as outer looks fade quickly and trying to fit into Hollywood idea of perfection is ridiculous and downright dangerous.

[riverkwai1]

02:03 PM on 04/26/2011

Seriously, does it mean to be bullied? If you classify being bullied as someone making fun of you or anyone saying anything bad about you than who on the planet has not been bullied? If you go too far trying to insulate and protect kids from the sometimes harsh realities of life you do them more harm than good.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:39 AM on 04/27/2011

Its not a level playing field because some kids have very hard lives.

[ScientistfromtheHood]

01:58 PM on 04/26/2011

Congress needs to pass legislation that protects school administrators from lawsuits by the parents of bullies. Many schools are afraid to suspend/expel students because their parents may claim harrassment or discrimination or etc. This wil help solve your bully problem.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:40 AM on 04/27/2011

Sometimes a kid has a connected family and the bullying comes out of the sense that they will never be in trouble, also.

[75thRanger]

01:18 PM on 04/26/2011

The little brats can't play dodge ball, they can't play tag, they can't play contact sports on the playground and some feel the need to overly concern themselves with bullying. Is anyone really surprised that our children today are a bunch of sniveling little brats without the tools required to resolve conflicts? By all means continue to wussify our children.

RLTW

[abbienormal]

01:38 AM on 04/27/2011

We will thanks. We will also train them to stay away from folks with your attitude.

[75thRanger]

12:54 PM on 04/27/2011

By all means shelter your child and fail to prepare them for the real world.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:41 AM on 04/27/2011

Well they cut all the sports, gym and recess and now kids are stuck playing mind games.

[75thRanger]

12:51 PM on 04/27/2011

Good point.

[Grandma Koolfinger]

01:00 PM on 04/26/2011

What constitutes bullying in this study? Any phrase that isn't "I love you so much!" One in four I find a little hard to believe.

Actual bullies are all cowards and there is one way to deal with them so they don't bully you again. Take them on, even if it means a butt whipping. Do that and they won't be bothering you again.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:42 AM on 04/27/2011

How many fights do these kids need to have? I think we'd prefer it if kids aren't in the emergency room because they got knifed.

[darcylu]

12:56 PM on 04/26/2011

I am relieved to see MA is taking this seriously. And they do need to include teachers in the studies. Some school systems actually have an administration and teacher culture that not only supports bullying, but takes part in it as well.

It is systemic in this judgmental society in which we live, where we attempt to build up our egos by bringing others down.

[SuppersReady]

01:24 PM on 04/26/2011

I live in MA and the school systems here are not messing around after the suicide of a girl bullied in Hadley and the Supreme Court case of a girl sexually harrassed on a school bus for years. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the parents of the victim and now there is a zero tolerance policy in place. I am glad. Bullying is just another word for harassment and assault. If these kids pulled this crap in the workplace they would be fired or arrested.

[abbienormal]

01:39 AM on 04/27/2011

Yes. Poor Phoebe's death has had a big effect here.

Fanned.

[toxicbrainpoison]

02:43 AM on 04/27/2011

Or maybe not so many workplaces don't care.

[SangZe]

07:42 AM on 04/26/2011

Bullying is part of growing up.

[practiceempathy]

12:46 PM on 04/26/2011

Interesting. That's usually what a parent of a bully says when confronted with his/her child's behavior.

[Austro-libertarian]

03:00 PM on 04/26/2011

So is that an absolute?