Volume CXI, Issue 8
The student news publication of Walnut Hills High School
Friday, February 10, 2017
So cial Bul ly ing
Ver bal Bul ly ing
excluding someone, spreading rumors
name-calling, teasing, threatening to cause harm
HANNAH REINHARDT/CHATTERBOX
HANNAH REINHARDT/CHATTERBOX
The Chatterbox recently conducted a school wide survey via Schoology to investigate the extent of bullying at WHHS this school year. 465 students, grades seven through twelve, participated in the survey. Student responses provided data on populations of students grouping themselves as bullies, victims and/or bystanders for different forms of bullying since the start of the 2016-17 school year. However, the survey questions did not use those terms, or identify exactly what bullying is, let alone even use the word “bullying” until the very last question. The survey revealed that bullying has a presence at WHHS, although students on average do not think bullying is a problem at WHHS this school year.
88.2%
22.2%
of students have seen someone get teased,
But only of them have reported any bullying
Respondents who have been called a distasteful name or been threatened
Respondents who have called someone a distasteful name or threatened another
No
Physical fights respondents have seen
4+ 3 2 1
64%
0
of respondents who have felt excluded have also intentionally excluded someone else.
Yes No
Yes
Is Bullying a Problem at WHHS? respondents
3
Tenth graders spread times as many rumors as seventh graders
3 in 5 respondents have bullied someone PETER VAN DRIEL/THENOUNPROJECT.COM
Camille Williams, ‘18
A breakdown of responses indicates that the perception on prevalence of bullying varAt WHHS, nearly three in five students ies per grade. In order of increasing, with the surveyed have either verbally bullied or solast having the greatest number of students cially bullied someone at least once this who see bullying as a problem at WHHS school year. However, this does “It’s are: twelfth, eleventh, ninth, sevnot mean they are all bullies. enth, tenth and then eighth. Bullying is defined by renot just one The seventh grade has petitive behavior. The person against one the most dissent on the survey also found that extent to which bulthe vast majority of person, and it’s not like lying is a problem at these “bullies,” also the stereotypi cal stuff you WHHS, with 22 percent identified as victims. strongly agreeing and When students evalusee in movies.” strongly disagreeing. Sevated how they felt about Ruby Krimmer, enth graders experience and the statement “bullying commit the least amount of is a problem at WHHS,” the ‘19. bullying in nearly every category. average fell between disagree and “I see [bullying] more in other grades, neutral. The students who agree that bullybut I think that is just because when ing is an issue at WHHS are more frequently you’re in seventh grade, you are trying to victims of bullying. They, on average, have get adjusted and know everyone,” Simverbally bullied more than those who do not recognize bullying as an issue at WHHS. one Sears, ‘22, said. Nevertheless, sevThe students who feel neutral or disagree enth graders report more instances of that bullying is an issue at WHHS experi- bullying to adults than any other grade. Eighth graders, on average, perceive bullyence lower rates of verbal and social forms of ing to be a greater issue relative to the other bullying. They also have witnessed fewer ingrades. Eighth graders have felt the most exstances bullying, particularly physical fights. cluded and have seen the most physical fights.
“There are adults [at WHHS] who take ing others than people feeling excluded. things more seriously and there are people Yet some sophomores find ways to comwho go from an immature fourth grader to bat bullies in WHHS’ large environment. having a broader view of the world. So it’s “It’s such a big school. If you have problems not just: ‘I’m gonna call you a name because with one person, you can avoid them pretty I think it’s funny, because it may have a seri- easily,” Ruby Krimmer, ‘19, said. Krimmer agrees bullying is an issue at school, but rareous effect on somebody's life. [It’s “I about] people understandly sees it happen. At WHHS, large ing that your words groups of friends ease the stress feel we are a recan hurt other peoof bullying confrontations. ally strong community ple,” said Connor “If one person in a Vonbargen, ‘21. friend group gets atthat does not want to tear A higher tacked, or someone percentage of each other down. I see Walnut says something to try SENIORS ad- as a lot of smart people coming and ‘bully’ them, the mitted to dowhole friend group ing all forms together and being pretty nice will try and defend of bullying them and [the tension] to each other.” more than the can go away,” GabriSadie Gray, ‘22. other grades. Yet SEele Ackemeyer, ‘19, said. NIORS did not rank Students at WHHS are the highest as victims, not immune to bullying, an isinstead placing second or third. sue, no matter the type or scale. If you Sophomores stood out as the top recep- are bullied or see others involved in bultors of verbal bullying and top grade for lying, you can help by reporting it to any social bullying. They have the highest per- adult at WHHS. The WHHS commucentage of respondents spreading rumors nity seeks to strengthen student relations and even more people admitting to exclud- and continue fostering a sense of unity.