Do teens still get bullied for being swots/boffins?

[CharlieBrowns1987]

I went to a state secondary school in the late 90s/early 2000s and the attitude was that being clever, or a “boffin”, was the worst thing you could be and was a reason for bullying.

I was seen as a swot and bullied for it. I certainly wasn’t a Hermione Granger, throwing my hand up and doing the “pick me!” Every time the teacher asked a question. I was just quiet and got on with my work rather than pissing about.

MNers who have teens in state schools or who left school more recently than me, is this still a thing? Is the culture still that it’s shameful to be clever or interested in schoolwork?

Yes

It really does depend on the school. Our secondary has a small but vocal cohort of families who could not care less about education and are only there because they have to be - but the school is hardcore on tackling bullying and so it isn't a problem. There's no homophobic bullying either. My DD2 is both highly academic and out gay and she has no problems at all.