On October 8, the Taiwan Children’s Rights Convention Alliance unveiled a survey in Taipei that revealed some troubling statistics about bullying among sixth graders. According to the findings, 36.4% of these students reported that they had been victims of bullying, while 46.1% mentioned they had been involved in such incidents in some capacity.
Dr. Wu Jiayun, the Executive Director of the Children and Family Research Center at National Taiwan University, presented these results during a recent press conference. She emphasized the diverse and complex nature of bullying, which can manifest in various forms, including relational, verbal, physical, and cyberbullying.
Interestingly, the survey showed that a significant 65.7% of sixth graders said they would comfort a friend who was being bullied, and 56.7% indicated they would report the bullying to a teacher. However, the data also revealed some concerning trends: 18% of students admitted to ignoring bullying situations, while 9.1% confessed they would participate in the bullying themselves.
Dr. Wu highlighted a troubling cycle where those who experience victimization may sometimes turn into perpetrators, noting that approximately 20% of children identified themselves as fitting both roles. She stressed the need for a deeper understanding of the traumatic experiences faced by children and called for proactive dialogues around anti-discrimination and anti-bullying initiatives to help break this cycle.
A student representative at the press conference shared concerns about the current complaint mechanisms in schools. He pointed out that many victims fear retaliation, which often leads them to stay silent about their experiences. The representative proposed that schools create safer reporting channels that allow victims to file complaints anonymously, reducing their psychological burden. He also emphasized the necessity for schools to take a more active role in addressing these bullying issues.
To combat bullying in schools, the Taiwan Children’s Rights Convention Alliance suggested several measures, including fostering an appreciation for diversity, prioritizing counseling services, improving teacher training, and implementing trauma-informed practices.
This impactful survey was conducted by the National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center in collaboration with the Taiwan Good Neighbor Association between 2022 and 2023, gathering responses from 3,793 sixth graders across 19 counties and cities in Taiwan.
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