Teen bullying is a serious problem facing most schools today. In light of the fact that middle schools encompass grades six through eight, or six through ten, it indicates that once bullying begins in the pre-teen years.

Teenage bullying is the next level in which victims face even more sophisticated taunting. Keep in mind, eighth graders in middle schools have been in the school for at least four or five years, and have established a powerful presence among their peers. As they move on to high school, especially a high school which is in close proximity to the middle school, the teenage bullies will usually cut class and hang out around the middle school premises, invoking additional fear among those whom they have already victimized.

In fact, some teenage bullies will amass a group of like-minded friends in high school, and begin preying on the younger students in middle school. But it doesn’t end there. Weapons are prevalent among high school teens, as are drugs, smoking, alcohol and the formation of gangs. Gang violence has been well-documented in certain cities in the U.S. In fact, middle schools kids can easily be spotted as part of a gang by the type of headdress they wear. Red bandanas indicate one gang, black bandanas indicate another. If there is going to be a gang-related incident, the word spreads quickly. At the end of the school day, you may witness hundreds of teens coming from one direction in preparation for the fighting that will commence against another group coming from the opposite direction.

What does this have to do with teen bullying? Plenty. Teenage bullies become involved in vandalism, theft, truancy and drug use. Bullying in middle schools is the first step in a long line of progressive and aggressive behavior, which eventually winds up in gang-related violence.

Teenage bullies have little regard for others, are poor students, have no respect for authority, and simply use the school as their base of operation to cause havoc and terror. Case in point: a teen that has been left back in middle school is found wandering the halls daily. He rarely attends classes, and bangs on classroom doors in an effort to interrupt an ongoing lesson. He wanders in and out of the main office and yells at the office staff. When security is called, he runs away to another floor in the building where he continues to harass and cause problems for teachers and students alike. He has a history of aggressive behavior from previous schools, and while administrators do all they can to control him – eventually they throw up their hands and allow him free rein. This is the modus operandi of teenage bullies.

Teen bullying begins early on. Studies have indicated that bullies can be detected at the age of two years. From elementary school through high school, the bully will increase his or her power, amass friends who have the same disregard for authority, and begin a cycle of verbal and physical abuse which then escalates in high school. Unless and until programs are implemented in the schools which identify bullies from the outset, they will continue to be the masters of their domain.