Something needs to be done and soon!

[Catherine]

Your mother was very wise. She recognized a problem and dealt with it in a loving manner.  I think children can be taught compassion and empathy. Certainly we need to take bullying seriously. We need to help the victims of course so they don't take things out on the more vulnerable. We need to help the bullies. Most parents seem to take the position that their child would never act that way or the other child provoked it. We need to study the children who bully and understand why.

I think we need to study the animal abusers. Who are they and why do they do it.  If they are paid to do cruel things is it because they have no other job choices.

I think it is rare that a person is cruel by nature with no other negative influences.