Knives and guns in schools make dramatic headlines, but experts warn there is a more insidious threat to students in school hallways -- bullying.
Every day, an estimated one in four children is bullied, which affects students' sense of security more than any other school safety problem, a U.S. Department of Justice study states.
Bullying in schools can blossom under less-than-watchful eyes and children's increasingly high-tech social world complicates the situation, said Dr. Susan M. Swearer, an expert on the subject who will offer free training Thursday here on how to thwart bullies in schools.
When teachers and administrators have the attitude that "it's just kids being kids and it's not that big of a deal," bullying is more likely, she said. Demonstrated lack of tolerance for the aggressive behavior among school officials lowers the likelihood of such actions, she said.
Bullying has gained attention across the United States in recent years.
PDF: U.S. Department of Justice study SIGNS TO LOOK FORIf a child shows several of these signs, it is possible a bullying problem exists.My child might be a bullying victim if he or she:* Comes home from school with torn or dirty clothes or damaged books.* Has cuts, bruises or scratches.* Has few, if any, friends.* Seems afraid to go to school or complains of headaches or stomach pains.* Does not sleep well or has bad dreams.* Loses interest in schoolwork.* Seems sad, depressed or moody.* Is anxious or has poor self-esteem.* Is quiet, sensitive or passive.My child might be a bully if he or she:* Teases, threatens or hits others.* Is hot-tempered or impulsive, or has a hard time following rules.* Is aggressive toward adults.* Is tough or shows no sympathy for children who are bullied.* Has been involved in other antisocial behavior, like vandalism or theft.Source: 2004 U.S. Department of Justice study "Bullying in Schools."
On March 30, a Polk County, Fla., teenager allegedly was ambushed by six other girls and beaten to the point of unconsciousness, according to media reports. The half-dozen girls videotaped the 30-minute assault and the tape now is being used as evidence by authorities.
In the fall of 2009, bullying played a role in Murray County, Ga., teen Tyler Long's suicide, according to allegations in a federal lawsuit filed by his parents against the school system. Parents David and Tina Long claim their son died after years of bullying at school and on the school bus.
The school has denied the allegations, saying that Tyler committed suicide when he was home with his parents.
Melissa Mathis, school superintendent in Walker County, Ga., said children no longer live in a cocoon of safety, and training for staff is more important than ever. Walker administrators are "trained and well versed, especially our guidance counselors and our parent involvement specialists," Mrs. Mathis said.
But schools can have only so much impact, she said.
"It's not an issue that's going to be solved in schools," she said.
Schools are responsible for the welfare and safety of students, "but there's no issue that faces a child that can be solved in isolation," she said. "It takes the whole network of the community and the school."
BULLYING EFFECTS
Bullying victims can suffer from anxiety, depression or low self-esteem that can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according to the Department of Justice study.
Dr. Swearer, an associate professor of school psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said depression is associated with bullying and being bullied, and bullying victims often display anxiety.
"The link between bullying and suicide has been around for a long time," she said.
Bullies can have emotional problems or not, they can be in the popular crowd or loners, Dr. Swearer said. Victims, meanwhile, often are not assertive. They can be loners, physically or psychologically weak and have a hard time defending themselves, she said.
"Typically, bullies bully other people for a sense of power and control, so that issue really underlies the motivation for the behavior," she said.
Children who live in a home where parents exhibit aggression, or who associate with other children who use aggression to get what they want, often identify bullying as "a way to get power and respect," she said.
Dr. Swearer said the shootings at Colorado's Columbine High School in April 1999 drew the public's attention to bullying after assertions were made that the attackers might have been retaliating against bullies. The interest remained although the bullying allegations from Columbine were later shown to be untrue.
There are ways school administrators can push back, she said.
School officials must work together to change the conditions that allow bullying and create a positive climate in school, Dr. Swearer said.
"There's a lot of impacts both for the kids who are doing the bullying and the kids being bullied," she said.
NEW THREAT ON THE NET
"Cyber-bullying," the use of technology to victimize others, has the added dynamic of making it possible to bully a victim 24 hours a day every day, Dr. Swearer said.
"Kids these days are very connected to technology. Cyber-bullying can be incredibly damaging because it's a permanent product," she said.
The audience for bullying messages or even photos can number in the hundreds or thousands, she said.
"The kids who are being cyber-bullied can really feel the enormity of that experience. And when they turn on their phone or turn on their computer, the harassing messages are right there and they can read them over and over and over again," she said.
"It can be incredibly disturbing because it's relentless," she said.
Pam Dantzler, principal at East Hamilton School in Hamilton County, said high-tech bullying often blurs the lines between school and home. East Hamilton is a sixth- through 12th-grade school.
"What we are finding that's most difficult, so many things start on the social networking sites," Ms. Dantzler said. "Facebook, cell phones and texting have added to the escalation.
"We don't have a lot of bullying that goes on in our school, but what we do deal with generally stems from something that was said over the weekend on a Facebook page," she said. "It just skyrockets from there, and we are left to deal with it when they come back to school."
Siskin Children's Institute spokeswoman Deborah Luehrs said Thursday's free workshop is the product of a poll of school administrators conducted last year that indicated they wanted training on bullying. The workshop is a component of the institute's Kids Like You, Kids Like Me program.
"People are realizing now that it's not just the kids who are being bullied that need help, it's the bullies themselves; as well as the teachers and administrators who are dealing with it," Ms. Luehrs said.
"The institute has a special interest in the issue because children with special needs -- and that's our focus -- are often subject to bullying because of their behavioral or physical differences," she said.
On Friday, Siskin had 60 educators from 11 counties enrolled in the workshop, and officials expect that number to swell to more than 100 by Thursday.
IF YOU GO
What: Bullying Prevention and Intervention.
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Siskin Children's Institute, 1101 Carter St.
Speaker: Dr. Susan Swearer, associate professor of school psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She said she will help school administrators "understand the complexity of bullying, all the factors that contribute to bullying, how to recognize it and how to be smart about intervening."
Cost: Free.
To register: 423-648-1757 or siskin.org/bullying.
BY THE NUMBERS
* 5.7 million: Children report being involved in bullying
* 13 percent: report bullying others
* 11 percent: report being the target of bullies
* 6 percent: Said they bullied others and were bullied themselves
Source: The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Click here to vote in our daily poll: Were you bullied as a child?