Bullying Amoung Juveniles

Juvenile Bullying Bullying, a form of violence among children, is common on school playgrounds, in neighborhoods, and in homes throughout the United States and around the world. Often occurring out of the presence of adults or in front of adults who fail to intercede, bullying has long been considered and inevitable and, in some ways, uncontrollable part of growing up. School bullying has come under intense public and media scrutiny recently amid reports that may have been a contributing factor in shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, in 1999 and Santana High School in Santee, CA, in early 2001 and in other acts of juvenile violence including suicide. Bullying can affect the social environment of a school, creating a climate of fear among students, inhibiting their ability to learn, and leading to other antisocial behavior. Nevertheless, through research and evaluation, successful programs to recognize, prevent, and effectively intervene in bullying behavior have been developed and replicated in schools across the country. These schools send the message that bullying behavior is not tolerated and, as a result, have improved safety and created a more inclusive learning environment. Bullying happens when a child is picked on by another child or a group of children. It is harmful and deliberate. It can happen in many different ways. Victims find it difficult to defend themselves. Bullying usually happens again and again, and can go on for a long time unless something is done about it. In the US, bullying among children and teenagers has often been dismissed as a normal part of growing up. Little attention has

been paid to the devastating effects of bullying, or to the connection between bullying and other forms of violence. Bullying among children encompasses a variety of negative acts carried out repeatedly over time. It involves a real or perceived imbalance of power, with the more powerful child or group attacking those who are less