The best way to tackle bullies

Bullies thrive because, although they don't applaud it, those around them don't deter it, at least not effectively.

- Birjees Hussain

Telling a bully that what he's doing is wrong isn't always going to cut it. Bullies bully because they enjoy watching their victim squirm and cower in fear. It makes them feel powerful and important. Their feeling of empowerment always increases when the person they're bullying does not fight back (either verbally or physically) and does not complain to higher authority even when given the chance. They bank on the fact that their victim will fear reprisals upon reporting the bully to authorities and, yes, that is exactly what a victim is thinking.

Parents of bullies were recently fined tens of thousands by authorities thereby holding the parents responsible for their child's unacceptable actions at school. This approach might seem a tad unusual but it's one of the best that I have ever come across. Most parents will ignore the bullying for one of two reasons.

Either they mistake it for just playground play or they've tried to tackle their child but have been unsuccessful.