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Report: Fewer School Bullying Cases Overall But Physical, Verbal Cases Increase

Zach Herndon
/
WFIU/WTIU News

Reported cases of bullying in schools have slightly decreased compared to the 2017-18 school year, according to an annual state survey aimed at tracking bullying incidents. 

Indiana schools reported 5,604 cases of bullying in the 2018 survey, and this year, they reported about 347 fewer cases overall, for a total of 5,257 during the 2018-19 school year. 

Department of Education spokesperson Adam Baker says fewer schools reported having zero cases of bullying, and he says that’s actually a good thing – it gives a clearer picture of what’s happening in schools.

“When you talk about you know, are schools accurate or are they at least reporting something to have that number drop, that’s good,” he says.

Baker says the state looks at the type of bullying to guide training for educators and people working in schools. According to this year’s report, written or electronic incidents dropped significantly, and verbal and physical cases of bullying increased.