NCJ Number
158305
Date Published
1995
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A national survey of 6th through 12th grade students was conducted to assess student strategies to avoid harm at school.
Abstract
Responses of 6,504 students indicated that unsafe conditions at school were relatively common. About half the students personally witnessed bullying, robbery, or physical assault at school, and about 1 in 8 reported being directly victimized at school. About half said they did not use any strategy to avoid trouble at school, while the other half reported using a single strategy or a combination of strategies. About 20 percent said they tried to stay in a group while at school but did not report using any other strategy to avoid harm; 5 percent resorted to a single strategy other than staying in a group. Grade level, school type, and school racial/ethnic composition relative to student race/ethnicity were associated with student use of some strategy to avoid difficulties at school. White students attending predominantly white schools were less likely to report using a strategy than black students, regardless of school racial/ethnic composition. Fewer private than public school students reported using a strategy. The survey methodology and data reliability are discussed. 6 endnotes, 2 tables, and 1 figure