We might have even tangled with them. Black eyes, lost lunch money and ridicule was as serious as it got. Today it is a different story. Bullies today are more in number and often they are armed. Confrontations with these individuals have led to fatalities.
Schools are no longer bastions of discipline.
Even the legal system fails to induce fear in these individuals. Most parents will agree that teasing at school is common and can be vicious. Few parents are aware that 15-20 percent of children are victimized by bullies. This includes taunting, kicking, hitting, sexual harassment, and stealing. The effects are devastating for some kids, including loss of self-esteem, reduction in school grades and poor attendance in class.