Role of Schools

Nansel et al., (2001) believe that the dangers of bullying aren't taken seriously in this country.

It is common for school administrators to deny that they have a problem with bullying. Nansel states that in order to solve this problem, schools must acknowledge the problem.

An example of the reluctance on the part of educators to believe that they are key to solving this problem can be seen with the National Bullying Awareness Campaign (NBAC). The National Education Association (NEA) introduced the NBAC in 2002. The Web site provides basic information about the problem of bullying (http://www.nea.org/issues/safescho/bullying). The NEA stresses that solutions for youth violence are the community's responsibility. Although they recognize some of the consequences of this problem, they are reluctant to accept that schools have the ability and the responsibility to turn this around.

Teachers are one of the most important adults in the lives of young people (Bernard, 2003; Elias et al., 1997; Stringfield & Land, 2002). Teachers and other adults need to understand the problem of bullying in order to become a catalyst for a solution.

Despite the information that is available about the issue of youth violence in general and bullying in particular, most adults are unaware of the magnitude of the problem (Galinsky & Salmond, 2002; Beane, 1999; Coloroso, 2003; Rigby, 1997; Simmons, 2002; Smith et al., 1999).