The hot-button topic in schools this past month has been bullies, and with good reason.
A new survey found that half of students have bullied their peers. The same survey found another half of students have been seriously upset by the harrassment.
That news came after several recent suicides attributed to bullying, most notably that of Tyler Clementi, a college freshman who jumped off the George Washington Bridge.
The U.S. Department of Education waded into the debate this week, sending a 10-page letter on harrassment to schools.
All this begs the question: Is bullying a problem here?
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction pulls together statistics on discipline and behavior that give some indication of what’s happening locally.
In Snohomish County, the number of students suspended for bullying has climbed from 1,255 in 2004-05 to 1,448 in 2008-09, a 15 percent jump. (For a detailed look at the numbers by district, go here.)
Now, that could mean schools are becoming stricter enforcing rules against bullying. It also could mean more students are being bullied. Or it could mean both.
What’s been your experience with bullying? If you don’t feel comfortable posting your thoughts in the comments section below, you can e-mail me here.
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