Most students are neither bully nor victim. They are however witnesses to the bullying that takes place around them. Students can promote a positive school climate by discouraging bullying behavior among their peers, promoting inclusion of all others in their activities and seeking to foster acceptance of differences. Maine's students need to be educated about bullying and what one can do if one is the victim of a bully and what one can do if one sees another student being bullied. To stop bullying we need to empower the caring majority of students.
Parents can listen to their children.
Encourage children to talk about events at school, the walk or ride to and from school and how they are being treated by their peers so they can identify problems. Parents can take children's complaints of bullying seriously. Children are often afraid to tell anyone that they have been bullied. Parents can be on the lookout for signs that their child is being bullied such as a drop in grades, torn clothes, or needing extra money or supplies. Parents can tell the school or organization immediately if they think their child is being bullied.