RI Bullies Hardest on Middle Schoolers, Especially the White, Gay, and Disabled, New Report Says

PROVIDENCE, RI — Tiverton and Narragansett have the most bullies in the elementary schools, according to new report from Kids Count RI. In Tiverton, a whopping 86 percent of grade school kids reported they had been bullied, and in Narragansett, the statistic was 83 percent. The state average is 57.

But half the Tiverton children and 55 percent in Narragansett said the problem stopped when they reported it.n

And although Rhode Island has not wiped out bullying, the state has made strides to keep children safe.

"Bullying behavior is a social, educational, and health problem that affects many children and adolescents in Rhode Island and the U.S. Bullying behavior has a negative impact on all involved, including the victim, the perpetrator, and bystanders," according to Katherine Chu, of Kids Count.

Although when it occurs, bullying continues to be a serious problem for youngsters, the incidents in Rhode Island are declining at all grade levels.

According to the report, "between 2009-2010 and 2013-2014, Rhode Island students at every grade level reported experiencing at last one form of bullying in the past 12 months."

Here are the other key findings:

"In 2015, 16 percent of Rhode Island high school students reported currently being bullied on school property and 12 percent reported currently being cyberbullied. More than one-third (38 percent) of Rhode Island middle school students reported ever being bullied on school property and 20 percent reported ever being electronically bullied.

"Rhode Island elementary school students have reported significant declines in being bullied from 63 percent in 2009-2010 to 47 percent in 2013-2014.

"Middle school students in Rhode Island report having the highest rates of being bullied than any other grade level, but rates decreased from 61 percent in 2011-2012 to 57 percent in 2013-2014.

"In 2013, 45 percent of high school students reported being bullied, a decline from 51 percent in 2011-2012.

"Forty-two percent of high school students in the four core cities report bullying in the past 12 months, lower than their peers in the remainder of the state (49 percent) in 2013-2014.

"Specific student subgroup populations are at increased risk of being bullied, including youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT); youth with physical, emotional and/or learning disabilities; and youth who are overweight.

As for Race and Ethnicity, here are the findings"

"· While there is no consistent evidence that any one ethnic group is more or less likely to be the target of bullying, bullying behavior and related forms of peer victimization can be due to bias and discrimination.

· National research shows that children of any racial or ethnic background are at increased risk for bullying if a majority of their peers are of another racial or ethnic background. Racially and ethnically diverse schools may reduce rates of bullying behavior because no one racial or ethnic group is dominant.

· Nationally and in Rhode Island in 2015, White, non-Hispanic high school students report higher rates of being bullied on school property than their Hispanic or Black, non-Hispanic peers."

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