For each child, only one parent, selected at random, was permitted to participate. The teen survey uncovers a clear perception among teenagers of inequity in the social environment at their schools. While the dynamic of popularity or influence in teenage social environments is not new or surprising, the survey exposes the interesting and disturbing finding that many of the students leverage their status in the school to intimidate or embarrass others. Another 32 percent report occasional intimidation or embarrassment of this nature. Younger students are significantly more likely than older teens to identify intimidation at their schools.
Students are able to get away with such behavior because there are often no consequences.
Only one-third of respondents indicate that students who intimidate or embarrass other students usually get in trouble with teachers or school administrators. A mere 16 percent of respondents report that other students usually intercede to stop the incident and according to 27 percent of respondents, other students criticize the ones who are trying to intimidate their classmates. Interestingly, there appear to be some variations in the responses by the peers to intimidation at different types of schools. Intimidation and embarrassment result in serious problems for the victims, according to many respondents. While this does not necessarily portend a new wave of school shootings, the survey results demonstrate a high degree of dysfunctionality in the social environment of schools.