Massachusetts bullying survey reveals troubling trends

By Staff Writer

Approximately one-quarter of Massachusetts middle-schoolers have been bullied in school, according to a new report.

The results, which were published by The Boston Globe, also revealed that about 16 percent of high schools students in the Bay State said that they have been bullied at school. Massachusetts was thrust into the national spotlight last year when 15-year-old Phoebe Prince, of South Hadley, hanged herself after being severely bullied by a group of teens.

According to the recent report, bullying was significantly tied to violence endured at home. Students who admitted that they had been involved in bullying, whether as a offender or a victim, were five times more likely to have been physically injured by a family member, the media outlet reported.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a law last year requiring schools to take a tougher stance against bullying. The legislation mandates that institutions must adopt procedures for reporting and investigating bullying incidents. Teachers or administrators who do not follow the correct procedures are legally liable.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, nearly 30 percent of youth in the U.S. - more than 5.7 million - are involved in bullying, either as a bully, a target or both.

Children who have peer relationship issues may benefit from the programs that are offered by a summer boot camp.