District 81 bullying statistics

For students, bullying is, unfortunately, a natural part of their routine - whether they are the bullies or the bullied. Nationally, only 28 percent of students report experiencing bullying; this statistic is important as it indicates that the statistics regarding bullying rates may be gravely underestimated. Within schools, approximately 70 percent of students and staff report witnessing bullying. The statistics also report that 15 percent of high school students experience cyber-bullying.

Our local Spokane School District 81 has a lengthy bullying policy, stating it attempts and intervenes. However, bullying statistics are not easily accessible for the Spokane area. Why does this matter? By keeping statistics away from concerned citizens, we are taking away their ability to enact change. If there does not seem to be a problem, then there is nothing to fix.

Legislation against bullying has failed, and we are leaving change in the hands of policymakers who lack sufficient data themselves. We continue to encourage bullying amongst children because of the “kids being kids” mentality.

If we continue disregarding and underreporting bullying statistics, there will be no end to the cycle. Children are going to continue believing that this is acceptable behavior, when it is not.

Brittany Friend, Trevor Cheadle, Rashae Williams, Olivia Nagozrok, Gracia Muljadi

Spokane