Learning fear

Growing number of NYC students feel unsafe as gang activity, bullying uptick in schools: survey

https://nypost.com/2024/09/21/us-news/growing-number-of-nyc-students-feel-unsafe-as-gang-activity-bullying-uptick-in-schools-survey/

While Chancellor David Banks painted a rosy picture of the Big Apple’s public schools this week, the results of a citywide student survey show a darker reality — with a growing number of kids saying they are bullied, unhappy and unsafe.

Of 355,105 K-12 pupils polled by the city Department of Education this spring, 51% said harassment, bullying and intimidation by classmates was common. Last year, 48% of students felt that way.

Gang activity occurred some or most of the time in school, 27% of students said, up 2% from last year. 

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An increasing number of kids said they are bullied, unhappy, and don’t feel safe. 

More kids feel unsafe and unhappy, the DOE survey found, with 20% of kids disagreeing with the statement: “most days I have felt safe when at school,” a 3% increase from 2023. And 26% of kids rejected the phrase: “most days I have felt happy when at school,” up from 24% a year earlier. 

By 

Georgia Worrell