Safe Passage: Reality Check Quiz

1. What do teens cite most often as a major factor in school violence?

• Drugs and alcohol. Actually, peer group pressure is what teens cite most often as a major factor in school violence. Half of 7th- through 12th-graders surveyed cited peer-group pressure as a major factor, followed by drugs and alcohol (39 percent), lack of parental supervision (36 percent), and lack of family involvement (25 percent).

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• Lack of parental supervision. Actually, peer group pressure is what teens cite most often as a major factor in school violence. Half of 7th- through 12th-graders surveyed cited peer-group pressure as a major factor, followed by drugs and alcohol (39 percent), lack of parental supervision (36 percent), and lack of family involvement (25 percent).

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• Peer-group pressure. That's right. Peer group pressure is what teens cite most often as a major factor in school violence. Half of 7th- through 12th-graders surveyed cited peer-group pressure as a major factor, followed by drugs and alcohol (39 percent), lack of parental supervision (36 percent), and lack of family involvement (25 percent).

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• Lack of family involvement. Actually, peer group pressure is what teens cite most often as a major factor in school violence. Half of 7th- through 12th-graders surveyed cited peer-group pressure as a major factor, followed by drugs and alcohol (39 percent), lack of parental supervision (36 percent), and lack of family involvement (25 percent).

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

2. How many public-school students say they've been pushed, shoved, grabbed, or slapped at school in the past year?
Question 2 of 8.

• About half of all students. That's right. About half (49 percent) of public-school students surveyed said they'd been pushed, shoved, grabbed, or slapped at school in the past year. And this wasn't the work of a small group of bullies -- nearly 4 in 10 students (37 percent) admitted to being the perpetrators!

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• One in four students. Not quite. About half (49 percent) of public-school students surveyed said they'd been pushed, shoved, grabbed, or slapped at school in the past year. And this wasn't the work of a small group of bullies -- nearly 4 in 10 students (37 percent) admitted to being the perpetrators!

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• One in ten students. Not quite. About half (49 percent) of public-school students surveyed said they'd been pushed, shoved, grabbed, or slapped at school in the past year. And this wasn't the work of a small group of bullies -- nearly 4 in 10 students (37 percent) admitted to being the perpetrators!

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

3. How many public-school students say they've been "verbally insulted" at school in the past year?
Question 3 of 8.

• One in ten students. Not exactly. Six in ten 3rd- to 12th-graders surveyed say they've been verbally insulted at school during the past year. Forty-four percent say they've insulted someone.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• Three in ten students. Not exactly. Six in ten 3rd- to 12th-graders surveyed say they've been verbally insulted at school during the past year. Forty-four percent say they've insulted someone.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

• Six in ten students. You got it. Six in ten 3rd- to 12th-graders surveyed say they've been verbally insulted at school during the past year. Forty-four percent say they've insulted someone.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored MetLife. (www.metlife.org).

4. At what age level is bullying most common?
Question 4 of 8.

• Middle school. Yes, it's true. Bullying is most common in middle school. According to a national survey of 6th- through 12th-graders, 12 percent of middle- or junior-high students reported being bullied, twice the percentage of high-school students. One in three middle-schoolers worried about becoming victims, as compared to one in five high-schoolers.

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  Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, "Student Victimization at School" by Nolin, M; Davies, E; Westat, Inc. Washington, DC. October 1995. (www.nces.ed.gov/pubsearch)

• High school. Not exactly. Bullying is most common in middle school. According to a national survey of 6th- through 12th-graders, 12 percent of middle- or junior-high students reported being bullied, twice the percentage of high-school students. One in three middle-schoolers worried about becoming victims, as compared to one in five high-schoolers.

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  Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, "Student Victimization at School" by Nolin, M; Davies, E; Westat, Inc. Washington, DC. October 1995. (www.nces.ed.gov/pubsearch)

• No real difference between age groups. There is a difference. Bullying is most common in middle school. According to a national survey of 6th- through 12th-graders, 12 percent of middle- or junior-high students reported being bullied, twice the percentage of high-school students. One in three middle-schoolers worried about becoming victims, as compared to one in five high-schoolers.

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  Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES, "Student Victimization at School" by Nolin, M; Davies, E; Westat, Inc. Washington, DC. October 1995. (www.nces.ed.gov/pubsearch)

5. How many students say they've been victims of "unwelcome and unwanted" sexual behavior in and around school or at school events?
Question 5 of 8.

• Two in five students. Actually, four in five 8th- to 11th-graders surveyed have been the target of "unwelcome and unwanted" sexual behavior during their school lives. Harassing behaviors ranged from sexual comments, graffiti, and rumors to forcing someone to do something sexual. Forty-seven percent of the students were harassed for the first time in grades 6 through 9, with 6 percent of the students reporting unwanted advances before third grade.

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

• Four in five students. That's right. Four in five 8th- to 11th-graders surveyed have been the target of "unwelcome and unwanted" sexual behavior during their school lives. Harassing behaviors ranged from sexual comments, graffiti, and rumors to forcing someone to do something sexual. Forty-seven percent of the students were harassed for the first time in grades 6 through 9, with 6 percent of the students reporting unwanted advances before third grade.

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

• Nearly all students. Actually, four in five 8th- to 11th-graders surveyed have been the target of "unwelcome and unwanted" sexual behavior during their school lives. Harassing behaviors ranged from sexual comments, graffiti, and rumors to forcing someone to do something sexual. Forty-seven percent of the students were harassed for the first time in grades 6 through 9, with 6 percent of the students reporting unwanted advances before third grade.

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

6. Which statement is true about sexual harassment?
Question 6 of 8.

• Large percentages of both boys and girls have been harassed at some point during their schooling. All of the above. Large percentages of girls and boys report being harassed at some point in their school life (girls, 85 percent; boys, 76 percent), but the gap widens when frequency is considered. (Sixty-six percent of girls report being harassed "often" or "occasionally," as compared with 49 percent of boys.) Being called gay or lesbian breaks this general pattern, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to be victims of homophobic comments (boys, 23 percent; girls, 10 percent).

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

• Girls are harassed more frequently than boys. All of the above. Large percentages of girls and boys report being harassed at some point in their school life (girls, 85 percent; boys, 76 percent), but the gap widens when frequency is considered. (Sixty-six percent of girls report being harassed "often" or "occasionally," as compared with 49 percent of boys.) Being called gay or lesbian breaks this general pattern, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to be victims of homophobic comments (boys, 23 percent; girls, 10 percent).

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

• Twice as many boys as girls are called gay/lesbian as a form of harassment. All of the above. Large percentages of girls and boys report being harassed at some point in their school life (girls, 85 percent; boys, 76 percent), but the gap widens when frequency is considered. (Sixty-six percent of girls report being harassed "often" or "occasionally," as compared with 49 percent of boys.) Being called gay or lesbian breaks this general pattern, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to be victims of homophobic comments (boys, 23 percent; girls, 10 percent).

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

• All of the above. That's right -- all of the above. Large percentages of girls and boys report being harassed at some point in their school life (girls, 85 percent; boys, 76 percent), but the gap widens when frequency is considered. (Sixty-six percent of girls report being harassed "often" or "occasionally," as compared with 49 percent of boys.) Being called gay or lesbian breaks this general pattern, with boys more than twice as likely as girls to be victims of homophobic comments (boys, 23 percent; girls, 10 percent).

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  Source: AAUW, Education Foundation, Hostile Hallways (1993) Survey conducted by Louis Harris &Associates. (www.aauw.org/2000/hhbod.html)

7. What percentage of students surveyed agree with the statement, "If I'm challenged, I'm going to fight"?
Question 7 of 8.

• Seventeen percent. Actually, forty-one percent of students surveyed said they'd fight if challenged. And a third agreed with the statement, "When I'm really angry, there's no way I can control myself."

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1998: Building Family- School Partnerships: View of Teachers and Students, sponsored by MetLife. (www.metlife.org)

• Thirty-three percent. Actually, forty-one percent of students surveyed said they'd fight if challenged. And a third agreed with the statement, "When I'm really angry, there's no way I can control myself."

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1998: Building Family- School Partnerships: View of Teachers and Students, sponsored by MetLife. (www.metlife.org)

• Forty-one percent. That's right. Forty-one percent of students surveyed said they'd fight if challenged. And a third agreed with the statement, "When I'm really angry, there's no way I can control myself."

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1998: Building Family- School Partnerships: View of Teachers and Students, sponsored by MetLife. (www.metlife.org)

8. How many public-school students report carrying a weapon to school at some point in time?
Question 8 of 8.

• One in 4 students. Actually, one in eight students has carried a weapon to school at some point. One in five boys has carried a weapon to school.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored by MetLife.(www.metlife.org).

• One in 8 students. That's right. One in eight students has carried a weapon to school at some point. One in five boys has carried a weapon to school.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored by MetLife.(www.metlife.org).

• One in 12 students. Actually, one in eight students has carried a weapon to school at some point. One in five boys has carried a weapon to school.

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  Source: The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1999: Violence in America's Public Schools, Five Years Later, sponsored by MetLife.(www.metlife.org).