Thanks to GLSEN for this story
In 2005, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network released a study conducted by Harris Interactive – “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America – A National Report on School Bullying” – that looked at “students’ and teachers’ experiences with bullying and harassment.” They interviewed 3,450 students aged 13 to 18 and 1,011 secondary school teachers. It was the first national study that took on the topic of bullying in America’s schools.
Not surprisingly, 65% of students reported that they had been bullied within the year in which the study was conducted “because of their perceived or actual appearance, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, race/ethnicity, disability or religion.” The purpose of the study was to gain information in order to help raise awareness in schools across the country about the prevalence of bullying and the need for outreach, education and policies that would lead to a safer environment for students.
Today, GLSEN has released a follow-up study on bullying, biased remarks and family diversity conducted by Harris Interactive, called “Playgrounds and Prejudice: Elementary School Climate in the United States” – this time based on interviews with “1,065 elementary school students in 3rd to 6th grade and 1,099 elementary school teachers of K-6th grade.” It examines homophobia and gender nonconformity in elementary schools. The study found that:
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