Report shows bullying incidents have quadrupled in New Jersey schools

WELL, TURNING NOW TO WHAT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS AN ALARMING INCREASE OF BULLYING IN NEW JERSEY SCHOOLS, A NEW REPORT THIS MONTH SHOWS FROM 2018 TO 2023, INCIDENTS HAVE QUADRUPLE DOUBLED OF THE SIX YEARS OF DATA COMPILED BY THE STATE'S ANTI-BULLYING TASK FORCE. NUMBERS FROM THE MOSTRILLIONECENT SCHOOL YEAR 2021 TO 2022 SHOW MORE THAN 19,000 HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING INCIDENTS WERE INVESTIGATED OF THAT NUMBER, 7600 INCIDENTS WERE CONFIRMED AND THE HIGHEST SINCE THE STATE STARTED MONITORING BULLYING IN SCHOOLS. >> I'M NOT VERY SURPRISED IT'S SAD, BUT I'M NOT VERY SURPRISED BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT BULLIES, THEY WANT HIERARCHY RIGHT? THEY WANT POWER, THEY INTIMIDATE OTHER STUDENTS, RIGHT? BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE POWERLESS AT HOME. MARIA REYES IS A LICENSED THERAPIST WHO LIVES IN SOUTH JERSEY AND SAYS A LOT OF TIMES THIS STARTS AT HOME. >> THE REPORT ALSO SHOWED PHYSICAL BULLYING DROPPED, BUT VERBAL AND CYBER BULLYING CONTINUES TO RISE AND WHILE THE TASK FORCE APPLAUDED THE STATE FOR ITS MEASURES TO SUPPORT INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS, IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT SCHOOLS NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO COMBAT BULLYING. DOCTOR REYES SAYS THERE SHOULD BE MORE DONE TO EDUCATE SCHOOL FACULTY AND STUDENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF BULLYING AND PREVENTION. >> BRIAN MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. IT'S MUCH EASIER TO BE A BULLY WHEN YOU'RE BEH