Bullying still a big problem at elementary schools

Nearly half of students in grades 4 to 6 at Hamilton public schools say they’ve been physically bullied in the past year, although whether that’s worse than before is unclear because of changes to an annual questionnaire.

The latest survey for this year’s Positive Culture and WellBeing Report for the first time covered all 85 elementary schools and asked students in two grade ranges — 4 to 6, and 7 and 8 — if they’d been bullied in four categories: physical, verbal, social and cyber.

Previous surveys covered only half of elementary schools each year on an alternating basis, grouped the five grades’ responses together and only asked students if they were bullied or harassed in the past year.

That broader measure found about four in 10 students were victims of some form of bullying or harassment in 2016 and 2017.

Results for the more detailed 2018 survey show students in both grade ranges were most often subjected to verbal and social bullying, with those in grades 4 to 6 more frequent targets than in grades 7 and 8.

Sixty-one per cent of those in 4 to 6 reported verbal bullying at least once, a figure including 27 per cent experiencing it weekly or more. That compares to 59 per cent verbally bullied in the higher grades, including 27 per cent weekly or more.

For physical bullying, 48 per cent of students in grades 4 to 6 reported being victims, with 15 per cent indicating weekly or more, compared to 36 and 11 per cent, respectively, for grades 7 and 8.

Sharon Stephanian, superintendent for equity and well-being, said the 2018 survey used a new statistical tool known as the Middle Years Development Instrument and the responses will provide the baseline data for future surveys.

But the new survey also doesn’t allow the school board to determine if it met a goal of increasing the number of students who feel safe, supported and accepted because results can’t be compared with previous years, she told trustees in a presentation.

Stephanian said the new survey’s benefits include that data for individual schools can be shared with principals.