Understanding Bullying for Schools

Bullying is a real issue in schools today. In fact, the School Crime Supplement – along with the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice – says that 28 percent of students from 6th through 12th grade are targets of bullying.

Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both children who are bullied and children who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. Children who bully use their power - such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity - to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.