Janine Pease: Keeping students safe from bullying at school

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 19 percent of the nation’s high school students in 2013 reported being bullied on school property in the preceding 12 month period. And 15 percent reported cyber-bullying in the same year. Bullying affects health, as it can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, and even death. Victims are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties and poor school adjustment.

The National Education Association defines bullying as a form of peer abuse. This abuse may be verbal, social/relational, physical and cyber-bullying. Peer abuse may pertain to weight, gender, sexual orientation and disability. The NEA estimates 160,000 children miss school because they are scared of bullying.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction has a School Discipline Glossary of Offenses Against Persons, which defines harassment, bullying, intimidation as repeatedly annoying or attacking a student or group of students or other personnel which creates an intimidation or hostile educational or work environment.”

The National Crime Prevention Council defines bullying as: “fighting, threatening, name-calling, teasing or excluding someone repeatedly, and over time; an imbalance of power, such as size or popularity; physical, social or emotional harm; and hurting another person to get something.” The council describes warning signs that show up when kids are bullied. These include withdrawal, a loss of friends, a drop in grades, loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy, torn clothing, bruises and a need for extra money or supplies.