Angry. Helpless. Afraid. Guilty. All these words describe how teachers feel when they realize that their student is being bullied. Bullying is a serious issue. Bullying can cause both physical and emotional damage to a student. Prolonged bullying also can set up a cycle of harassment. Sadly, if a bully is popular, other kids may join in with the teasing to gain the bully's approval. In these cases, bullying a particular student can become a "cool" thing to do in a school or neighborhood.

School management and staff should try to prevent bullying of their students, work with students to help diminish the effects of the bullying. Bullying can damage a student's self-esteem, willingness to trust peers, and ability to make friends with other students. Help curb these profoundly negative effects by trying some of the following options:

1. Provide your student with a place to interact with peers completely separate from the place/social setting of the bullying. Give your student a chance to interact with other students who are not aware of the bullying situation. Positive peer encounters in the new setting will not only boost your student's self-esteem and social network, but will provide a welcome fresh start on friendships with peers.
   
2. Involve the student in peer interactions based on his/her interests. If he/she likes music, encourage him/her to regularly attend the music lessons. If your student enjoys games, ensure that he/she participates in sports activities. Provide a place where his/her interest is shared by others. Involvement with peers who share the same interests can provide a network of friends and can jump-start self-esteem.
   
3. Find an older friend/hero/role model for your student. Because if a child is older, it is likely that your student listens to their counsel. The combination of credibility and identification provided by a slightly older friend can offer the child support, advice, and hope for better days to come.
   
4. Give students a journal and encourage them to write openly and honestly about how they are feeling. Bottling up the emotions caused by bullying can cause lasting damage to self-esteem. Because many victims of bullying are embarrassed by their situation (they feel they somehow "deserve" the treatment), they are quite unlikely to talk about their plight, or their feelings, with other friends, siblings, or parents. A journal can provide a safe outlet for their emotions.
   
5. Provide your student with chances to excel. Whether in academics, music, sports, or debate and other competitions, help your student find something they enjoy doing and have the potential to do very well with a little practice. Developing authentic self-confidence about a skill or talent can go a long way toward silencing the negative internal voice that says ‘I'm not valuable’---the voice activated in a victim's mind by too much bullying.