The answer to this question are wide and varied.  The reasons people bully are many but all come back to one central component.  People who are bullies are seeking power and control.  Why they are seeking this could be for many different reason.  Maybe they are seeking attention.  Maybe this is a way that they protect themselves.  Maybe this is how they try to gain and maintain status.  Maybe they have a rough home life so they look to gain power and control at other environments, such as school.  People bully for many different reasons, but there are also many intervention and prevention techinques that schools and parents can use to make sure that their students and children are safe.  Raising awareness, education about the dynamics of bullying, and helping students and children identify tools to help themselves and their classmates is also helpful.  There are many programs and useful materials that you can find to help you address this topic with youth.  Please check out your local area for nonprofits or agencies who may be able to assist you and your school with this topic.

If you have a youth you are concerned for, please refer them to www.yourlifeyourvoice.org.  It is a site where they will be able to write counselors about the problems they are experiencing and they will work with the students in providing advice and guidance.

Please take care!

Counselor, Dominic
Boys Town National Hotline-A resource for parents and teens
1-800-448-3000
www.parenting.org