Survey: Less Bullying Victims Reporting Incidents

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Patty de Garavilla presented the findings from the fall bullying survey to the School Committee at Monday night’s meeting, and the results indicate fewer students who are bullied are reporting the incidents.

Students are surveyed two times a year, in both the fall and spring semesters, and elementary, middle and high school students participate. The elementary school survey consists of priority areas, as defined by the School Committee, while the middle and high school questions are pulled from the MARC survey for students.

Nearly across the board, the number of kids who are reporting bullying to adults or friends showed slight drops, something that de Garavilla expressed concern about.

“We’re concerned with what is happening if there is an incident,” she said when speaking about the results of the RMHS survey. “Are they not comfortable reporting it, or afraid of retaliation?”

According to the survey, 18 percent of RMHS students who experience bullying do not report it to anyone, down 1 percent from the previous survey. Additionally, only 11 percent of bullying victims confide in their friends, whereas 22 percent said they reported incidents to friends on the last survey. Students said they reported bullying to their parents or family on just 7 percent of the surveys, showing a 5 percent decrease. Only 2 percent of students indicated they tell an adult at school and 3 percent said they tell other adults. Both dropped 1 percent from the previous survey. High school students were also surveyed regarding online bullying, and while 33 percent said they do not report incidents, that figure was 38 percent last time around. The results of the online bullying portion were positive, as 59 percent of students said they have never been bullied online—an increase of 8 percent. The survey results indicate that more students are now reporting online bullying then previously.

Overall 5 percent more RMHS students said they have never experienced bullying at school.

Elementary school students are first asked if they understand what bullying is, and almost all of them indicated in the affirmative—98 percent compared to 96 percent from the previous survey. Again, more students indicated they have never been bullied then previously, but those that have are less likely to report it.

While 56 percent of students said they have never been bullied—up from 49 percent the semester before—the amount who said they did not report it dropped two points to 28 percent.

The middle school survey yielded the most positive results with regards to reporting, as 60 percent of students said they would feel comfortable reporting bullying, as opposed to 57 percent previously. Additionally, only 9 percent of middle school students who have been bullied tell no one, down from 11 percent.

According to the survey, 72 percent of middle school students have never been bullied at school, compared to 68 percent on the last survey.

De Garavilla also reported that nearly 100 percent of elementary school teachers have completed Open Circle training, which focuses on early grades with relationship building. Middles schools will utilize Life Skills and Second Step programs, while training for new hires will continue in these areas and additional lessons will be implemented in RMHS’ decisions class.

School Committee member Lisa Gibbs wondered how which programs reach which outcomes is determined, to which de Garavilla responded that much relies on students’ honesty.

“The best we can hope for is students being honest on these surveys,” she said. “I think teachers are excellent judges of the effects ... it’s going to take another year of following to really see what’s going on and identify trends.”

Gibbs also asked how de Garavilla planned to address the non-reporting issue. De Garavilla said that it would have to be through the teachers.

To see the complete results from the fall bullying survey, check out the attached PDF file.