May 18, 2016 10:15 AM EDT By Mariel Hemingway, UniversityHerald Reporter

There is good news against bullying and highschool violence. According to a federal report, incidents of phsyical violence and bullying in US high schools are declining. However, did the case of physical bullying go down or did it transform into another form?

US High School Physical Violence and Bullying Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics released a report revealing that physical violecne and bullying in US high schools have declined. While the trend is promising, high school staff and teachers are hoping to permanently stop physical violence and bullying in US schools.

In the report, there has been a 7 percent decrease of physical violence brought by bullying in US high schools from 1995 to 2013. Theft has also decreased by 4 percent.

US High School Physical Violence and Bullying Has Resulted in Injuries

Physical violence and bullying in US high schools have resulted in actual injuries and casualties. Take for example, the news last month where a 16-year old high school student was dead after being assaulted by three teenage girls in a Delaware high school restroom, CNN reported.

While the physical violence and bullying rates have gone down in US high schools, this does not mean that it won't increase again. According to high school staff and teachers, this could be remedied by "positive culture" where student-teacher communication is open, US News & World Report shared. However, character development and positive culture cannot stop physical violence and bullying overnight and it may take a lot of years.

Physical Violence and Bullying Transformed Into Cyberbullying?

With today's greater access to the internet and various social media platforms, the trend of physical violence and bullying may have gone online through cyberbullying. Anyone can go on social media and post text or media that can incite cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is no stranger to taking lives of teenagers, especial high school kids as well. A 15-year old teenager from Australia took her life after being cyberbullied for something she posted on the internet, The Herald noted.

Could this mean that physical violence and bullying in US high schools have gone down because teenagers have found a new platform to cyberbully their classmates? Could this be because the school is not privy to students' social media accounts and therefore gives them less chances of being caught? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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