The best way to stop bullying is to teach students how to take care of each other, Iola Middle School counselor Stacey Crusinbery told USD 257 board members at their meeting Monday.
Crusinbery recapped results of an annual study that asks students across the state about risky behaviors like alcohol and drug use, as well as social and emotional factors like bullying and support from their families, school and community.
The Kansas Communities That Care survey helps schools identify areas of need to help schools find programs that can improve students’ lives.
Survey results show that 30 percent of Iola Middle School students reported being bullied, an increase of 5 percent from last year. Countywide results were similar. When only eighth graders were surveyed, 48 percent of them reported being bullied at least once.
Reports of cyberbullying have doubled over the past couple of years, with 28 percent of students reporting they experienced that type of bullying.
But when asked what they would do if they saw bullying at school, only 47 percent said they would report it. Crusinbery said she wants to see more students intervene when they see a classmate bully someone.
“Research continues to show that peer intervention is the most effective way to decrease bullying,” she said.
This year, IMS introduced a new program called Aevidum, which began in Pennsylvania as way for peer mentors to serve as role models for anti-bullying behavior. The IMS students — six eighth graders, three seventh graders and three six graders — organize various events to boost self-esteem and empathy, and to encourage their fellow students to report issues like bullying or sexual harassment.
“Aevidum means ‘I got your back,’” Crusinbery said.
The survey results also showed that 10 IMS students said they didn’t feel safe at school because of things like bullying or fear of a school shooting.
Last year, 17 IMS students said they were sexually harassed but only five reported it; 13 said the harassment had stopped.
About 41% of eighth graders reported feeling depressed, and 13 percent reported having suicidal thoughts last year.
The survey also looked at drug, alcohol and cigarette use. Crusinbery said the question that surprised her the most was about e-cigarette use. Eighth graders who reported using e-cigarettes jumped from 5% in 2018 to 17% in 2019.
Eighth-grade students who reported using alcohol in the last 30 days jumped from 9% in 2018 to 30% in 2019.
But there were some encouraging signs, too. Eighth-grade students who said they seldom or never enjoy school decreased from 39% to 28%. Crusinbery noticed improvements in areas like feeling safe in school and where students feel assignments are meaningful.
