Not a moment too soon either:

There’s been a sharp drop in the percentage of America’s children being bullied or beaten up by their peers, according to a new national survey by experts who believe anti-bullying programs are having an impact.

The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, found that the percentage of children who reported being physically bullied over the past year had declined from nearly 22 percent in 2003 to under 15 percent in 2008. The percentage reporting they’d been assaulted by other youths, including their siblings, dropped from 45 percent to 38.4 percent.

The lead author of the study, Professor David Finkelhor, said he was “very encouraged.”

So am I.

I try to avoid “causes” but this is one that is close to home and has been since growing up in Palm Beach.  The traditionally blasé attitude of too many American schools towards this has always bothered me.  It’s good to see that there are positive changes afoot here.